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There are a variety of approaches and strategies tied to inclusive and equitable teaching strategies. This page is designed to introduce a few approaches and resources.

Active Learning

Active learning is an approach that intentionally engages students in the learning process. The focus is on the work of the students and less on the instructor. Students perform better in courses with active learning than those that center lecturing as the primary mode of teaching (Freeman, 2014). It has also shown to lead to increased equitable outcomes (Eddy & Hogan, 2014; Haake et al., 2011; Lorenzo, Crouch, & Mazur, 2006)

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Students study on the lawn below Goddard Chapel on October 13, 2021. (Alonso Nichols/Tufts University)

UDL is a research-based approach that attempts to create equitable learning opportunities for all students by changing the learning environment (rather than attempting to

change the student). UDL asks instructors to use multiple modalities in teaching and learning in order to reach more students. This includes how instructors engage with students, how information is represented and our assessments.

Group Work/Labs

Groups and labs can be important parts of our educational goals. However, these are common spaces where students from marginalized backgrounds often experience isolation and microaggressions. Here are a few resources for best practices on how to better support student learning in these spaces.

Critical Pedagogy

Critical Pedagogy, pioneered by Paolo Friere, is an approach to education that questions power and power structures. It operates under the assumption that justice cannot be separated from teaching and learning. The goal is to support students to the goal of emancipation from oppressive structures in education and beyond.

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