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Assessment of Students’ Learning from A Diversity Course: Proving The Value of Multicultural EducationAssist Prof Sherwood Smith. This workshop presents and discusses information on a qualitative and quantitative systems for assessing student learning from a course focus on issues of diversity, with a specific social justice focus. The course, titled “Race & Culture” served 300 students a year as the diversity requirement for the College of Education as well as several other colleges on the campus. The course is one of several university diversity required courses.
The evaluation of U.S. multicultural education is essential. It is a vital component of curriculum transformation, organizational change and good pedagogy. Effective assessment not only documents success in achieving critical thinking skills, but equally important it provides justification for an institutional focus on diversity and social justice linked to academic excellence. To be effective in the three areas listed above, evaluation tools must provide quantitative data documenting learner satisfaction, learning and instructor quality as well as qualitative evidence able to describe outcomes in the learners own words. Unlike traditional academic course assessments U. S. multicultural programs must provide evidence to challenge the negative myths and at the same time document their value to the mission of the institution. This session should particularly benefit people having some experience with evaluation and assessment processes within secondary schools, colleges or universities or other similar settings. Presenters Assist Prof Sherwood Smith
(United States)
Director and Assistant Professor College of Education and Social Services, Department of Integrated Professional Studies Center for Cultural Pluralism, Office of the Provost University of Vermont Sherwood Smith is an Assistant Professor at the University of Vermont. The position covers administrative responsibilities as Director of the Center for Cultural Pluralism, faculty and staff training, as well as research and teaching courses the Human Development and Education Foundations Programs. He is involved in presenting and researching on issues of intercultural communication, cultural identity development and multicultural education. As a Peace Corps volunteer, Academic Director for an overseas program in Kenya and traveler in Asia he brings an international perspective to his work. He currently teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on multicultural issues.
Keywords
(60 min. Workshop,
English)
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