There is a chapter I've just read in Stephen Brookfield's Book, The Skillfull Teacher (2015) which focuses on the realities of teaching in classrooms. While diversity in terms of race especially have changed the college classroom in the last number of decades, I do think that they have been diverse for a long time. Brookfield talks about diversity in terms of learning preferences as well. There have always been those that prefer to be teacher led, or those that are introverted versus extroverted, or those that we more drawn to visuals or oral styles of teaching. There are many examples of how different religions or classes have affected classrooms as well. In a volunteer training I often find that the diversity includes different generations of individuals as well. So while visually the diversity of the classroom may have changed in recent times I think any time you mix this number of people up and put them into a single space you are going to get a diverse group of people.
Although we have been teaching in classrooms, and outside of classrooms for centuries I am not sure we will ever stop struggle with the diversity issue. Perhaps this isn't such a bad thing either, as it is being aware of our own background and those around us that will help to lesson issues of diversity and build a stronger, diverse, group of individuals.
I found an interesting article on Noodle about the difference of campus' that have a box to check off for diversity versus those that think of diversity as part of their campus culture. It's a short read, but reminds us of what diversity means beyond it's use as a buzzword these days: What Does it Really Mean to Increase Diversity on College Campuses?
Although we have been teaching in classrooms, and outside of classrooms for centuries I am not sure we will ever stop struggle with the diversity issue. Perhaps this isn't such a bad thing either, as it is being aware of our own background and those around us that will help to lesson issues of diversity and build a stronger, diverse, group of individuals.
I found an interesting article on Noodle about the difference of campus' that have a box to check off for diversity versus those that think of diversity as part of their campus culture. It's a short read, but reminds us of what diversity means beyond it's use as a buzzword these days: What Does it Really Mean to Increase Diversity on College Campuses?