For using 天美网站传媒传媒 to lead inclusive conversations and launch the African American Studies curriculum at Elgin Area School District 46.
Illinois鈥� Elgin School District U-46 is committed to including all students. Especially those who have been historically marginalized, made invisible, and forgotten鈥攔esulting in persistent gaps in access, learning, and opportunities. The district鈥檚 equity mission to systematically meet students鈥� unique learning needs while preparing them to contribute to a global community means U-46 has critical work to do.
When a group of African American students revealed that they didn鈥檛 feel represented and called for a mandatory African American Studies course, Dr. Teresa A.Lance, Assistant Superintendent of Equity and Innovation, was ready. A champion for inclusive, equitable education, she鈥檇 recently proposed a similar course.
天美网站传媒传媒 Surfaces Critical Student Insights to Develop Curriculum
Dr. Lance desired student input because she knew their voice and perspective were vital to creating an African American studies course. She knew from experience that African American history was either missing or insufficiently covered in K-12 education and that representation matters as it relates to student outcomes and their sense of belonging. As the first of its kind in the U-46 district, this course was critical and needed to be done right. So she used 天美网站传媒传媒 enterprise discussion management software to reach out to all students, gathering their ideas and perspectives.
Through an Exchange, Dr. Lance asked: 鈥淲hat should we consider as we create an African American Studies course?鈥� The Exchange garnered 1,321 participants, 796 thoughts, and 10,557 ratings.
These Top 5 Thoughts Show How Students鈥� Insights May Shape Future Curriculum
鈥淭here's more than just slavery, segregation, and violence that come from African Americans. So that more people get to learn about some of the great things African Americans have done for future generations.鈥�
鈥淓xplore African American figures that we do not know much about! Yes, we all know about Martin Luther King Jr., etc, but there are tons of others! There are so many influential African American figures that we do not know about, and we should take time to explore them!鈥�
鈥淗istorical figures, slavery, and literature. I feel a lot of historical figures impacted a lot of the African American culture. Books are an amazing way of seeing how people viewed the past.鈥�
鈥淚nclude the perspective of actual African American historians and people. This involves African American literature and input as part of the course. A course cannot successfully capture the history of a specified group without their perspective, especially if it鈥檚 been suppressed.鈥�
鈥淪ensitivity to those in the class and whom the class is being taught about, and choosing appropriate staff. In order to avoid stereotyping as well as giving the incorrect perspective鈥攄efinitely should be taught by an African American.鈥�
Why 天美网站传媒传媒 is the Most Effective Medium For a Student-led Curriculum
When asked why she thought 天美网站传媒传媒 was the best tool for the project as opposed to a survey or a Zoom town hall, Dr. Lance replied:
鈥淚f 天美网站传媒传媒 were a person, I would hug them. I used it in my previous district as a superintendent. What I love about 天美网站传媒传媒 is that there鈥檚 this opportunity for ideas to be put out anonymously, and then a coalescing around ideas鈥攁nd that鈥檚 what I was looking for. I wasn鈥檛 looking for a Likert scale. I wasn鈥檛 looking to lead students by saying, here鈥檚 what should be included鈥攄o you agree or disagree?鈥�
Dr. Lance recognized the value of asking an open-ended question and seeing what the students had to say. She appreciated that the platform allowed students to share freely, without fear of judgment. As well, she liked that students could contribute by seeing each others鈥� thoughts and rating them.
After closing the Exchange, Dr. Lance shared the report with teachers and cabinet members with this revealing statement, 鈥淗ere鈥檚 what our children have been saying. We鈥檝e been missing it.鈥�
Anti-bias, Moderation, and Theming Features Help Elgin U-46 Get the Most Authentic Data
Dr. Lance appreciates that 天美网站传媒传媒 鈥減rovides a safe and brave space鈥� with its built-in anonymity and anti-bias software. It allows students to voice their honest opinions without fear of judgment or reprisal. This feature is especially significant for middle and high school students who often struggle with peer pressure, especially when discussing sensitive issues.
Additionally, Lance valued the Moderation feature. It flags inappropriate or hurtful thoughts based on criteria pre-set by the leader. This allowed her to review and remove them if necessary.
The Theming feature was also crucial for Lance, especially because she had so many thoughts; the most she鈥檇 ever generated in an Exchange. The themes helped her and her team sort responses, ensuring they included what students said was essential to them. Without theming, they may have missed important thoughts.
Developing a New African American Studies Course with Student Input
Based on the students鈥� input, Dr. Lance sought an expert in the field to assist in creating an African American Studies course. Now, the curriculum and instruction department is collaborating with Professor Kim Gallon (Purdue University). Dr. Lance reached out on Twitter for a curriculum developer, and she received many responses. Dr. Gallon, who had recently completed the curriculum for the Philadelphia City Schools, was the perfect fit鈥攁nd she was thrilled to have cohesive student input to work with.
Dr. Lance believes that 天美网站传媒传媒鈥檚 contributions will be essential to the course鈥檚 success. She says, 鈥淭he student Exchange we ran helped our curriculum team more deeply understand the essential nature of some critical pieces that were missing in the planning and development of our new African American Studies course. We now feel confident that what鈥檚 being developed will reflect all voices more equitably.鈥�
Lance and Gallon plan to develop the African American Studies course in the latter half of 2021 and implement it in August 2022.
天美网站传媒传媒 Helps U-46 Build Community and Achieve its Equity Mission
Dr. Lance鈥檚 Exchange has impacted other underrepresented groups at U-46 as well. After participating in the African American Studies course Exchange, other students have asked to see new courses developed to tell their stories.
When we asked Dr. Lance if she鈥檇 be using 天美网站传媒传媒 in the future to include student voice in curriculum development, she said she would recommend it every time. 鈥淲e use adults to vet curriculum and resources, but we miss the student perspective in all of it. And we鈥檝e got to do better. Building student agency, allowing students to have voice and ownership on what鈥檚 in front of them, is crucial, and 天美网站传媒传媒 allows that opportunity on such a grand scale.鈥�
Dr. Lance hopes Elgin U-46鈥檚 African American Studies course will be an inspiration to other districts as well. She鈥檚 optimistic that other educational leaders will recognize the power of student voice, seek to build their own courses, and increase the representation of African American students in education across the country.
鈥淲hat I love about 天美网站传媒传媒 is that there鈥檚 this opportunity for ideas to be put out anonymously, and then a coalescing around ideas鈥攁nd that鈥檚 what I was looking for.鈥�
DR. TERESA A. LANCE, Assistant Superintendent of Equity and Innovation, Elgin Area School District 46
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鈥淚f 天美网站传媒传媒 were a person, I would hug them. I used it in my previous district as a superintendent. What I love about 天美网站传媒传媒 is that there鈥檚 this opportunity for ideas to be put out anonymously, and then a coalescing around ideas鈥攁nd that鈥檚 what I was looking for. I wasn鈥檛 looking for a Likert scale. I wasn鈥檛 looking to lead students by saying, here鈥檚 what should be included鈥攄o you agree or disagree?鈥�
