Cult of Pedagogy Podcast ep. 188 Blind Spots

Part 3A: Uncovering Your implicit Bias - Blind Spots

In this Task:
You will explore how teachers can use this framework to systematically discover their own way of “othering,” so that they can course correct in order to give every student a sense of belonging. To help you with that reflection, [Part 3B] offers eight questions central to finding your implicit biases and areas you need to work on in order to become a more inclusive, culturally responsible educator.

Your Task:

1. Listen to the episode segment from (00:00 - 11:48)
2. https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/blindspots/

Evidence of Learning:
What do you think??  REFLECT: Please offer a few thoughts (no more than a paragraph or two)

Hedreich Nichols offers educators to reflect on their “blind spots” and why that makes a person react the way they do; triggers.  

1. What/why do you suppose that blind spots will be important to understanding implicit bias?

Part 3B: The Questions

In This Task:
The Questions- These questions don’t need to be answered all at once, but when you do answer them, make sure you set aside time to consider the question, its meaning, and how you might use the information to become a better practitioner. Further, make sure you have a no-judgment zone in which to complete this exercise. What you write down should not be judged by others and you should not harshly judge yourself. Your honest responses are the most important factor in this exercise and there are no right or wrong answers. We are all on a journey and the fact that you are here reading this means you are already being intentional about becoming a better educator to all your students. 

Your Task:

1. Listen to the episode segment from (11:48 - 33:00)
2. https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/blindspots/

 Eight Questions for Uncovering Your Implicit Biases

1. #1 [12:21]  How diverse is your personal circle and why does it look like it does?
2. #2 [15:56]  Who are the ‘others’ in your life?
3. #3 [17:33]  How often do you use generalizations?
4. #4 [20:47]  What is your initial perception when you talk to someone with an accent different from yours?
5. #5 [21:41]  Do you consider the integration of diverse historical perspectives best practice or divisive politics?
6. #6 [26:38]  Who is on your “free pass” list?
7. #7 [28:35]  When do you tend most toward non-acceptance and judgment?
8. #8 [29:21]  How much cross-cultural literature, TV, and movies do you consume?

Evidence of Learning:
What do you think??  REFLECT: Please offer a few thoughts (no more than a paragraph or two)

As you considered your answers, you may have experienced a myriad of feelings, some positive, some more uncomfortable. Mostly, we all have more biases than we would like to think we do.  Knowing that I hope you won’t spend time on feelings of guilt and shame. While guilt can be a motivator, helping us to seek moral change and justice, more often it causes us to feel defensive or worse, it paralyzes us and keeps us from making needed changes. We all think things and feel things we “shouldn’t,” but if you begin by judging yourself, you’ll never get to a place where you don’t judge others. 

1. Select several questions and explain why they are important for a person to uncover their own biases.

Part 3C: Next Steps...

In This Task:
You will learn that these are hard questions that dealt with your feelings about what you’ve found out about yourself.  Hedreich offers six easily implementable strategies you can put into action, plus two important don’ts.


Your Task:

1. https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/blindspots/
2. Listen to the episode segment from (33:00 - 51:57) Next Steps...
   
3. Listen to the episode segment from (51:57 - 55:42) List of Excuses…

Review the list of Dos and Dont's

#1 [35:23]  Broaden your circle.
#2 [36:56]  Practice empathy with the “others” already in your life. (this or that)
#3 [41:16]  Monitor your daily intake of media.
#4 [43:04]  Know the difference between communication barriers and content barriers.
#5 [47:14]  Keep a log on whose behaviors you correct in class over two weeks.
#6 [47:32]  Understand that bias in classrooms is not confined to the biases of people in the classroom.
DON’Ts
#7 [48:37]  Don’t assume that content knowledge is static.
#8 [51:02]  Don’t get defensive.

Evidence of Learning:
What do you think??  REFLECT: Please offer a few thoughts (no more than a paragraph or two)

1. Consider the six steps offered by Hedreich, describe how you might use 1-2 strategies as a teacher to understand the perception/point of view of students in your room.