Complexly Constructed Identity: Exploring Cultural Artifacts, Attitudes, and Stereotypes

• In Event: Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: Preparing Preservice Teachers to Be Social Justice Educators

Abstract

Preservice teachers were asked to complete a case study assignment where they had to select one student with a different cultural background in their field experience. They developed a cultural memoir with a student in their student teaching placement. The purposes of the assignment were to: (a) encourage students to be critically reflective about their cultural backgrounds and beliefs, and (b) help the instructors better understand how this assignment influenced their thinking about themselves and their future teaching for social justice. Although there were many preservice teachers who had difficulty examining their own values and attitudes toward people different from themselves, there was some growth toward helping preservice teachers to become more aware of their cultural identities.

Author

• Edric Johnson, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater