Overview
Student populations today are more diverse than ever before. Ensuring that each student is meaningfully included and successful is a challenge for teachers, instructors, administrators, and others involved in the educational process. Differences in ability levels, ethnicity, cultural background, and gender identity, among other factors, can provide learning environments with a rich kaleidoscope of features. With inclusive leadership and practice, student diversity can add value to the learning environment, providing opportunities for meaningful learning, personal growth, and community building.
MDDE631: Inclusive Leadership and Practice in Education addresses the skills, knowledge, and attitudes required to deal successfully with student diversity. Theories and research from sociology, inclusive education, and inclusive leadership will be addressed, as well as relevant legislation and policies. Personal attitudes, values, and beliefs pertaining to particular differences will be explored. Through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous activities, participants in the course will investigate how learning environments can be made more student-centered and inclusive. Participants will address current challenges they face in a collaborative manner designed to create an ongoing community of practice.
Outline
The course is divided into three units:
- Unit 1: Inclusiveness Theory
- Unit 2: Leadership Theory
- Unit 3: Design and Application.
Learning outcomes
The course is designed for students to achieve the following goals:
- Analyse and critique the basic theories supporting the development of inclusive practices.
- Appraise the inclusive practices and values of learning environments.
- Design effective strategies for the application of inclusive practice in the classroom and educational workplace.
- Apply the principles and strategies of inclusiveness in their teaching practice.
- Advocate for the application of inclusive practices in the educational environment.
Materials
Physical course materials
The following course materials are included in a course package that will be shipped to your home prior to your course’s start date:
Ryan, J. (2006). Inclusive Leadership (Vol. 2). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Other Materials
Online Study guide and Readings.