Module 6: Education
Part 3: Using Your Lens in the Classroom
Part 2 focused on explaining types of lenses and helping to identify uses of these lenses. This part will build on the idea of lenses with a focus on applying an equity lens to develop structures and practices that are equitable and antiracist. This part provides resources for learning more about equity as well as reflection questions to consider current structures and practices and changes to become more equitable and antiracist.
Suggested Goals:
1. To review ideas related to equity and to connect equity and antiracism.
2. To reflect on structures and practices used in education.
3. To consider to changes in structures and practices from the classroom level and above to become equitable and antiracist.
Suggested Goals:
1. To review ideas related to equity and to connect equity and antiracism.
2. To reflect on structures and practices used in education.
3. To consider to changes in structures and practices from the classroom level and above to become equitable and antiracist.
&1: Using Your Lens in the Classroom
To begin considering how to use your lens in the classroom, we need to recognize there are inequities in the structures and practices in our classrooms, schools, and districts. The first resource presents the perspectives of Dorinda Carter Andrews as she overviews being conscious about equity.
Watch:
The Consciousness Gap in Education: An Equity Imperative
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=321&v=iOrgf3wTUbo&feature=emb_logo
Watch:
The Consciousness Gap in Education: An Equity Imperative
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=321&v=iOrgf3wTUbo&feature=emb_logo
Application of an equity lens relates to becoming antiracist. The following resource connects the ideas of antiracism and racial equity.
Read:
What does Antiracism have to do with Racial Equity?
http://crossroadsantiracism.org/antiracism-analysis/what-does-antiracism-have-to-do-with-racial-equity/
After understanding that inequities exist in a broad sense is a start, but a focus then needs to be on the specifics of your classroom or sphere of influence. How are inequities impacting the current environment and practices in your classroom?
To help consider inequities and decisions to address inequities, you can revisit the Racial Equity Tools module titled “Framing Issues with a Racial Equity Lens” found at the link below.
Activity/Explore:
Framing Issues with a Racial Equity Lens (Full access requires registration for a free account.)
https://www.racialequitytools.org/module/framing-issues-with-a-racial-equity-lens
As you reflect on your classroom structures and practices, you can reflect on the questions provided in the next two resources. These questions will aid in considering equity for students.
Read/Reflect:
Apply an Equity Lens
https://serc.carleton.edu/integrate/programs/make_change/equity.html
Reflect:
The following questions are from “Apply an Equity Lens” (https://serc.carleton.edu/integrate/programs/make_change/equity.html). While these questions focus on the “campus” or school level, consider how they could apply to your classroom.
- Has your campus chosen to use an equity lens to create your campus strategic plan, to set goals? Have you chosen an equity lens to create a plan and set goals for your classroom?
- Has your institution employed an equity scorecard approach to study the impact of your campus culture, policies and procedures on different members of your campus community?
- Who are your students today? What do you know about their interests, the knowledge and experience they bring to their education and the factors in their lives that affect how they manage their education?
- What efforts is your campus making to generate insights into how your institutional policies and the nature of your curriculum and your expectations for your students contribute to the racial and socioeconomic disparities in participation and outcomes that you see on your campus? How can you impact these conversations, decisions, and policies?
- What actions are being taken to address those disparities and what assumptions and values underlie those efforts? What lessons can you draw from those efforts that you can apply to your efforts and who can you approach to get advice and support?
Read/Reflect:
Using an Equity Lens: High School Success
https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/GraduationImprovement/Pages/HSSEquity.aspx
Reflect:
The following questions are from “Using an Equity Lens: High School Success” (https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/GraduationImprovement/Pages/HSSEquity.aspx).
- Who are the racial/ethnic and underserved groups affected? What is the potential impact of inequities, including the resource allocation and strategic investment/interventions?
- Does the decision being made ignore or worsen existing disparities or produce other unintended consequences? What is the impact on eliminating the opportunity gap?
- What are the barriers to more equitable outcomes? (e.g. mandated, political, emotional, financial, programmatic or managerial)
- How have you intentionally involved stakeholders (students, families) who are also members of the communities affected by inequities, including strategic investment/intervention or resource allocation?
- How will you modify or enhance your strategies to ensure each learner and communities’ individual and cultural needs are met?
- How are you collecting data on race, ethnicity, and native language?
- What resources are you using to develop in the area of culturally responsive instruction?
Read/Reflect:
Equity and Inclusion Lens Guide
https://nonprofitoregon.org/sites/default/files/NAO-Equity-Lens-Guide-2019.pdf

nao-equity-lens-guide-2019.pdf | |
File Size: | 3310 kb |
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Reflecting on the questions presented may lead to the need for more understanding or resources to further develop practices and policies that support equity in classroom structures and practice. The following resources can be used to further develop understanding, structures, and skills for applying an equity lens. Explore these resources and use the reflection questions to help further action for equity and antiracism.
Read/Watch/Listen/Explore:
The Leading Equity Center Podcasts (Free podcasts - also available on other podcast services.)
https://www.leadingequitycenter.com/podcast
Online Learning (There are fees associated with some of these opportunities.)
https://www.leadingequitycenter.com/onlinelearning
Home
https://www.leadingequitycenter.com/
Tools for Anti-Racist Teaching
https://www.pbs.org/education/blog/tools-for-anti-racist-teaching
Reality Pedagogy: Christopher Emdin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&time_continue=5&v=2Y9tVf_8fqo&feature=emb_logo
Read/Watch/Listen/Explore:
The Leading Equity Center Podcasts (Free podcasts - also available on other podcast services.)
https://www.leadingequitycenter.com/podcast
Online Learning (There are fees associated with some of these opportunities.)
https://www.leadingequitycenter.com/onlinelearning
Home
https://www.leadingequitycenter.com/
Tools for Anti-Racist Teaching
https://www.pbs.org/education/blog/tools-for-anti-racist-teaching
Reality Pedagogy: Christopher Emdin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&time_continue=5&v=2Y9tVf_8fqo&feature=emb_logo
Hip Hop, Grit, and Academic Success: Bettina Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=25&v=tkZqPMzgvzg&feature=emb_logo
5 Things You Should Read About Asset-Based Teaching
https://acrl.ala.org/IS/wp-content/uploads/is-research_5Things_asset-based-teaching.pdf

is-research_5things_asset-based-teaching.pdf | |
File Size: | 42 kb |
File Type: |
Reflect:
The next part will further explore resources focused on the idea of creating an antiracist classroom.
- What have you learned about using your lens?
- How can you be sure that your lens isn’t “temporary” or for use only in school?
- How does equity and an “equity lens” connect to systemic racism and oppression?
- What else do you need to know about equity to continue to develop as an antiracist?
- What are two next steps that you will take to become a stronger antiracist, equity-focused educator?
The next part will further explore resources focused on the idea of creating an antiracist classroom.