Article: Diversity

This article discusses the different methods of teaching students with diverse backgrounds. All students are capable of learning; it’s the teacher’s responsibility to understand the culture and learning style of the student to maximize his or her learning potential. Learning and cultures are controversial in three different ways: The first one is they often lead to naïve inferences about individuals within that group; there is a persistent achievement differences between minority and non-minority students; and it brings us face to face with philosophical issues that involve deeply held beliefs. These three beliefs have lead to many new ways of approaching teaching by connecting learning and culture. Research has been done to find learning patterns within different diversities. The article gives three different examples of measuring culture and learning. The article also has research about similarities that all diversities share within learning; as well as a list of controversial teaching methods in terms of diversity and learning.
For the most part we all described our reflections differently, but came to the same conclusion. Knowing and understanding your students is by far more important than trying to teach based on their culture. Since we are all from Maine, culture differences have never been a major issue for any of us. So we have never really taken the time to think about it. But we do all know from practicum the importance of differentiated instruction. This article was a good eye opener in understanding our students’ culture, so that we may apply it in the classroom, but as far as teaching students certain ways because statistics show that historically their cultures thrive in a certain teaching style, we will pass on that. We will not pass on getting to know, and understand our students’ strengths within learning; nor will we pass on not using all the multiple intelligences. Instead of teaching based on students’ diversity, it is more important to teach based on their learning styles and personalities, and to use their culture within the learning experience.

Guild, P. (1994, May). The Culture/Learning Style Connection: Educating for Diversity. Educational Leadership, 447-453.