Review “Online Education as a Means to Curb Classroom Microaggressions” (Lipovac, 2015) from this module’s Learning Resources
Discussion 1: Collaborative Activity 1: Needy Students The discussion board is fertile ground for deep learning. It is also fertile ground for misunderstanding and potential conflict. Students on the needy end of the spectrum pose specific challenges to managing discussions successfully. It is your job to keep students focused and on topic so that they feel free to express themselves in a safe and collegial environment. For this assignment, and Collaborative Activity 2, your Instructor will pair you with two colleagues. Connect with your partners via e-mail, chat, Skype, telephone, or another mutually agreed upon medium. (Synchronous communication is preferred, but not required, for this activity.) Together, brainstorm strategies to address each of the three scenarios. Consider which of the three scenarios you would like to address in your post. Note: You will work with the same partners for Collaborative Activity 2. Scenario 1: Oliver posts a question in the Help Forum asking if someone can explain why the Distance Learning Department is telling him that he must switch browsers for the course LMS to work properly on his computer. He is working on an older computer and simply does not understand the whole concept of different browsers and versions. Nancy responds to his post saying that as an online student he should understand these things and “that even her father could figure it out.” Oliver’s feelings are hurt. Oliver e-mails you to share that he is upset and that he wants you to speak with Nancy about her “condescending and ageist” remarks. Scenario 2: Lucy refers to Edgar as Eddy on the discussion boards, despite Edgar having asked to not be called this in his Introduction post. Edgar asks her directly to stop because Edgar is a name of honor in his country, while Eddie is not. Lucy responds by saying, “Whatever.” Edgar becomes angry. He questions her cultural sensitivity and her ability to work with students from diverse backgrounds. Edgar then starts a thread in the Help Forum about microaggressions that, while not calling her out by name, is clearly aimed at Lucy. Scenario 3: Nelly posts her work on the discussion board and mentions that the assignment catalyzed her to reflect on the influence her family and ethnicity has had on her work ethic as a student. Amy replies, asking Nelly where she is from and stating how impressed she is with Nelly’s English fluency. To Amy’s surprise, Nelly responds angrily, stating that she was born in the United States and that English is her first language! Amy apologizes, but Nelly remains offended and refuses to respond. To Prepare: Review “Online Education as a Means to Curb Classroom Microaggressions” (Lipovac, 2015) from this module’s Learning Resources. Consider how you would address microaggressions in your online classroom.
