If I approach the world with curiosity and humility....

 

What does it mean to be a white woman teaching about diversity and social justice? 

How has my content and pedagogy about DEI changed over the last 20 years? 

Are the "classic" readings I use with undergrads too dated?

Is there such a thing as "classics" in the literature -- things that aren't ever too dated?

Are my DEI lessons designed for white people but I don't realize it because I am white?

I believe that white people and people of color may need different content and pedagogy when it comes to DEI.  How can I figure out the differences that are necessary?

Is it about content?

Is it about pedagogy?

What about my content and pedagogy makes them so accessible to white people?

If the content and pedagogy are accessible to white people, does that necessarily mean that the same things are alienating to my students of color?

How can i shift my content and pedagogy around DEI to meet the needs of my more racially diverse students?

Does my teaching in DEI reflect what i believe about teaching and learning?

Does my teaching in DEI reflect what i believe about race, gender, and power?

Why do words like curiosity and humility resonate with me so much? 

What makes Ted Lasso the perfect manifestation of my values?

Why do I ask so many yes or no questions when i know better?

What if... 

• What if I started to write memos after my YDEV 150 class to document the changed I am noticing in pedagogy and practice when I teach about identity and diversity to a group that is mostly students of color?
• What if I asked the students to be co-researchers with me?
• What if I wrote an article with my teaching assistant about this? 
• What if I were less attached to my old ways?
• What if I listened to more podcasts and Ted Talks about DEI pedagogy by people of color? Or by white people asking the same questions as me?

Welcome to day one!

 Hello YDEV 560 people!

As a central tool of this class, you will create your own blog to use this semester for all of your written assignments, and to keep track of your thoughts about any of the issues we cover. 
  

A blog is your very own, personal online journal. It is public, in that I and your peers can read it and comment on it, but it is your space and you can control most everything about it. (If you want to make it private so that *only* members of this class can read it, let's talk).  

To start your own blog, you need to go to: www.blogger.com
  

At this point, you will need to sign in to your Google Account in the box at the right.  Signing in will allow you to create your own blog on a site called blogger.com.   

Click the button that says NEW BLOG (you will see this even if you have blogged before) and follow the instructions to get started.   

As you fill in the info, you will be asked to give your blog a TITLE. This title will appear at the top of your blog. (Mine is called "YDEV 560")  

Then, you need to choose an address: http://_______.blogspot.com. This will be the web address associated with your site. You can call it anything you like. Be clever or simple (or both) -- it is up to you. Do note that many addresses have already been used by other bloggers, so you may have to get creative.  Write it down so you don't forget it! (You can also find it later on in your Dashboard where all of your future blogs will be listed.)  

You will also need to choose a design template for your blog. For the purposes of this class, you must choose SIMPLE OR PICTURE WINDOW for ease and readability.  Once you have the account set up, you can start posting. 

A “post” is an entry on your blog. (For clarification, you have one blog, but many posts). Give the post a title and then compose as you would any journal entry. When you are finished, hit the button at the bottom that says Publish. It will not appear on your blog until you publish it. You can always go back and edit old posts and create new ones.

Your First Post:

In one sentence and one picture, show us something that makes you happy. 

POST A COMMENT WITH YOUR ADDRESS:

When you are done creating your blog and posting your first entry, please come back to this blog and post a comment at the end of the first post (scroll down) that includes your name and your blog address so that I can post it in the blog list to the right.

Some Tips and Helpful Hints:

• Once you are in your blog, look at the top right corner of the screen. If you click on the word DESIGN, you will be able to make design changes, create new posts, edit old posts, etc. (You can only do this if you are logged in to your blog.)
• Once you are in the DESIGN screen, you can do all kinds of things to make your blog a bit more interesting. Change your fonts and colors, edit a post, change your settings. See the tabs at the top of the screen for all kinds of options.
• Poke around online and make a list of websites related to education, media literacy, social justice or anything else relevant and post them on your blog. You can add all kinds of things by ADDING A GADGET from your LAYOUT screen.
• Just do the best you can with this. If you get stuck, don't fret... I am happy to help you anytime as you work on getting this started. And remember: you can't break it. It is just a blog. Everything can be changed if need be!

Good luck!!  

LB :)