| Course Number: | Section 2: EDX 5710 S17 |
| Instructor: | Benjamin White, Ed.D. |
| Location: | Online. Remote Asynchronous (fully online without scheduled meeting times.) |
|
Dates and Times: |
Section 2: Nov 04, 2024 – Dec 22, 2024 |
| Credits: | 3 Graduate Credits |
| Tuition: | $1,195 |
Dive into a transformative journey with this course designed for educators and leaders to champion inclusivity and support in diverse classrooms and schools. This course explores cultural competency and neurodiversity, providing knowledge and tools to create respectful and inclusive learning environments for all students. Participants will engage with theoretical frameworks and practical strategies, applying culturally responsive teaching techniques. This course challenges participants to reflect on their own biases and systemic inequities, equipping them to dismantle barriers to inclusion and value diverse voices. Embrace diversity as a strength, fostering a culture of self-advocacy, empowerment, and belonging. Transform your educational practice to meet the needs of today’s learners.
Audience: All educators prek-12 who hold a Bachelors Degree.
Course Goals:
1. Grasp the principles of cultural competency and neurodiversity, and understand their importance in fostering inclusive learning environments.
2. Recognize and appreciate the unique qualities, abilities, and educational needs of students from diverse cultural and neurodiverse backgrounds.
3. Apply culturally responsive teaching strategies to address the varied learning styles and needs of all students.
4. Create and maintain educational spaces that are welcoming, well-organized, and culturally sensitive, ensuring every student feels a sense of belonging and achievement.
5. Develop an educational philosophy that values diversity, promotes self-advocacy and empowerment, and supports students in affirming their identities.
Course Objectives:
1. Foundational Knowledge:
Acquire a deep understanding of cultural competency and neurodiversity to support inclusive education.
2. Practical Application:
Implement and refine culturally responsive teaching strategies in various classroom settings.
3. Personal Reflection and Growth:
Engage in self-reflection to identify and overcome personal biases, fostering a more equitable educational environment.
4. Community and Student Engagement:
Build strong partnerships with families and communities, empowering students to advocate for themselves and embrace their identities.
Ben White, Ed.D.
Ben White is an educational leader and researcher focused on providing an inclusive, safe, and fun educational learning experience for students. He has expertise in antiracism professional development, policy development and preparing aspiring school leaders. Additionally, he is experienced in early literacy specifically teaching equity and diversity through literature as well as creating systems which foster innovation. He currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent for SAU 29. He has also worked as a Director of Curriculum, Communication and Innovation, Principal at the elementary level, an Assistant Principal at the middle-level, Program Director for at-risk children through a non-profit, and served as an educator in grades PreK-8th. He has a BS and an M.S.Ed from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine and his Ed.D. through New England College.
Required Texts are not included in the course tuition.
The Neurodiversity Edge: The Essential Guide to Embracing Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Other Neurological Differences for Any Organization (Dunne, 2024)
Lyiscott, Jamila (2019). Black Appetite. White Food: Issues of Race, Voice, and Justice Within and
Beyond the Classroom. Routledge. ISBN: 978-1138480667
Ben White
(603) 803-1739
(802) 468-1325