Lecture Notes: Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and New Century Students

Introduction

• Speaker expresses delight to be in Chicago, acknowledging strong alumni presence.
• Thanks to Dean Dantley and support staff, especially Jean Pierce Ritter and Sandra Graham.
• Personal anecdote about daughter’s college search and the perception of seriousness in education.

College View Books and Student Perceptions

• Daughter inundated with college view books due to high test scores.
• Perception of colleges selling experiences (e.g., mountains) rather than educational value.
• Anecdote about son's college choices and Loyola experience.

Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP)

• Focus on teachers successful with traditionally underserved students.
• CRP involves:
  • Academic Achievement: Focus on mastery, not coverage.
  • Cultural Competence: Understanding one’s own culture and being fluent in another.
  • Sociopolitical Consciousness: Engaging students with societal issues.

Teaching and Learning Approaches

• Critique of traditional education focusing on coverage rather than student mastery.
• Example of medical school teaching focusing on student mastery and competence.
• Importance of developing culturally competent teachers and students.
• Encouragement for teachers to connect with students through various teaching settings.

New Century Students

• Characteristics:
  • Technologically savvy, multitaskers, and heavy consumers.
  • Prefer instant messaging and tweets over email.
  • Access information online, often through non-traditional means.
  • Different views on copyright and intellectual property.
• Need to adapt teaching to these new realities and engage students meaningfully.

Hip Hop and Education

• Hip hop as a cultural vehicle to connect with students.
• Importance of understanding hip hop culture to engage students.
• Examples of hip hop’s global influence and potential in education.

New Technologies and Education

• Increasing role of technology and social media in student lives.
• Teachers need to stay current with technology to engage students effectively.

Examples of Culturally Relevant Practices

• Examples of hip hop and spoken word initiatives in education.
• Importance of student engagement through relevant cultural contexts.

Challenges and Opportunities

• Struggles with traditional educational measures (e.g., IB and AP programs).
• Encouragement to innovate and take risks in teaching to better serve diverse student populations.
• Importance of empowering teachers and fostering a supportive community environment.

Conclusion

• Emphasis on the need for educational systems to adapt to the needs of New Century students.
• Encouragement for educators to be courageous and innovative in their teaching practices.