Student Diversity

Student diversity is attributed by several factors such as their socioeconomic status, culture, ethnic group, presence of physical or learning disabilities etc. Their behaviors could have primarily been derived from different genetic and hereditary characteristics of their ancestry and heavily influenced by environmental experiences. These will eventually lead different students to have different levels of verbal commands, quantitative reasoning, derive meaning from companionship, appreciation of art etc. It is important not to limit ourselves to classroom while we are trying to understand our learners. Often parents or caretakers may need to be interrogated to understand the child. Sometimes even peers can be an important source of information. 

Gender Bias

It is the preference given to either male or female students without a rational reason. Gender bias may occur consciously or unconsciously. Male and female students exhibit a difference in learning abilities in different learning paradigms.  Over all male students exhibit a superior ability in solving quantitative problems (mathematics and physics) where as female students are superior to their male counter parts in memorizing and mastering language. Learning variation patterns among genders greatly contribute to carrier selection as well. 

Socioeconomic Status

A teacher must treat respectfully and equally to students of all cultures, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds and other diversity factors such that the worth of human dignity is not affected. 

Special Needs

Students with special learning needs are those who have learning challenges. It could be due to disorders such as autism, attention deficient hyperactivity disorder, language / communication disorder, emotional and behavioral disorders. Ideally these students must be educated in a special need specialized class. However in absence of such a facility such students should be first and foremost identified and taught according to their level of understanding without comparison to their peers. It is important to involve parents or care givers in educating such students.

How can we address student diversity?

1.    General Strategies

•   Understand student diversity and make the students apprehend of it.
•  Be informed of history and as many cultures.
•  Acknowledge students cultural identity in classroom practice.
• Promote mutual respect among students.
• Motivate them to be active learners through critical thinking and active participation.
• Recognize biases.
• Understand that each student is an individual and respect him for his personal attributes.
• Be sensitive and avoid statements or an example that degrades a group.
• Get the picture of cultural situation of the class and address any potentially unhealthy situations well in advance.

2.    Strategies related to course content

•  Select text whose language is gender neutral and free of stereotype.
•  Understand that students may not be familiar with cultures practices and historical references as the teacher.
• Consider student needs when giving homework and weekend tasks.

3.     Strategies related to class discussions

• Give importance to different viewpoints and make clear that you value all views.
• Encourage all students to take part in discussions and avoid singling out of students as spokes persons.
•  Apprehend one’s own behavior in response to the student comments.
•  Discourage any student remarks which are humiliating or degrading.

4.    Strategies related with gender equity

• Make lessons, work arrangements and rewards equally encouraging to all students
•  Incorporate Math and Science into other subjects as well and address their practical everyday uses.
• Create a reading list that is appealing for boys as well.
•  Employment computer and technology in teaching learning activities

Understanding student diversity will allow a teacher to adapt the best strategies for teaching and managing the class in terms of discipline. It will also make the learning process more enjoyable and fruitful for the students. Addressing student diversity will invariably contribute to effective teaching. Failure to address student diversity could give rise to the most unpredicted and unforeseen situation.

Reference:

PGCE lecture notes