GVSU Education Programs News
Education Programs featured in Teach-In
November 07, 2022
GVSU’s 10th annual Teach-In features multiple sessions on November 9th and 10th on topics relating to "Power, Privilege, and Difficult Dialogues." During the two days, the Teach-In provides students, faculty, and staff a place to address topics related to power and privilege, and participate in conversations around often difficult topics. Among the presentations, several were created and hosted by students, faculty, and staff from GVSU's Education Programs.
Sharing Our Stories: Moving from Division to Hope
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
LINK TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT - AT EBERHARD CENTER
PRESENTERS: Lisa Perhamus and Jeff Kelly Lowenstein (faculty) and John Noltner (Community Member)
Frustrated with a polarized world, John Noltner drove 40,000 miles across the country interviewing and photographing hundreds of people from all walks of life. His keynote address is a multi-media presentation through which he shares his personal story of following his passion while at the same time revealing the wisdom of everyday Americans and their stories of hope, transformation, and forgiveness. With portraits and personal stories, ordinary people reveal extraordinary insights into how we can work toward the common good and create a world that is more just for all. Noltner's work is grounded in the belief that art and storytelling have the power to transform our hearts as well as our communities, and that we each have the power to create positive change in the world. This keynote address is open to the public and will be interactive, incorporating small group discussions as well as a question/answer session with Noltner. Light refreshments will be served on November 9th, 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
The Linguistic Discrimination and Bias Against African American English in the Classroom
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022, 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
In-Person Interactive presentation in KC 2215/16
PRESENTERS: Dan Brown (Faculty) and Yasmin Alemayehu and Rose Konnie (Students)
Students will hold an engaging conversation to raise awareness of the linguistic equality of non-standard dialects with a focus on African American English (AAE) and the ideology surrounding its perception in public discourse. Through analyzing the intersectionality of language, race, and power, they plan to explore how educators and classroom members can avoid a deficit perspective in view of AAE speakers by discussing how and when the use of home dialects could be encouraged (and celebrated) in classroom contexts. The presenters will introduce strategies for educators to legitimize students’ home dialects, and thereby students’ identities which can have a powerful impact on learners’ conceptions of their linguistic and academic capabilities (for example, through language awareness activities that explore the linguistic patterns of AAE in contrast with academic English). The presentation will emphasize strategies for educators to encourage their students’ emerging ‘bidialectal’ linguistic repertoires, although the session should be of interest to a general audience.
We need deep inclusion, not just representation: What the History of the Exclusion of Asian American & Pacific Islander Students Reveals
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022, 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
ZOOM LINK to Presentation and discussion.
PRESENTERS: Leanne Kang (Faculty), Mei Mah (Staff), and Mae Rickey (Graduate Student)
Diversity initiatives require going beyond just representation but deeper curricular inclusion of all people groups in American society. In this session, the presenters discuss how the histories of minoritized groups deepen our knowledge and our sense of self -- no matter if you are a minoritized person or not. Kang uses the history of excluding Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) students as a case that illustrates this. This session will help participants think about how what is missing in the curriculum can reinforce racial biases or racist attitudes that we might otherwise not be aware of.
Inclusive Classroom Strategies for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations in the US
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022, 2:30 - 3:45 pm
In-person workshop in KC 2215/16
PRESENTERS: Nagnon Diarrassouba (Faculty) and Rose Starook, and Angelina Bauer (Graduate Students)
Participants will learn how inequality affects our schools and communities and gain an awareness of how racial inclusion benefits all stakeholders. A PowerPoint presentation will bring awareness to inequalities that currently exist in our schools/communities and how they affect our diverse student population. Additionally, we will discuss, offer, and include strategies currently being implemented in the classroom that will be considered “inclusive practices for culturally and linguistically diverse populations." Hands-on activities, strategies, and resources to promote equality and inclusion will be provided within a “workshop” format.
The article photo shows the GVSU's 10th annual Teach-In logo.
Article edited by Alex Jacobsson. For more information on this story, contact the Office of Certification and Accreditation - (616) 331-6650.