Developing Self- and Cultural Awareness Through Introductory Education Courses: The "Me" Semester

• In Event: 56.080 - Roundtable Session 23
  In Roundtable Session: 56.080-5 - Developing Meaningful Opportunities for Preservice Multicultural Awareness

Abstract

Using case study method, this project examines the perceptions and practices related to development of self and cultural awareness among a cohort of 104 first-year students (n=104), all aspiring to become future teachers. Over the course of one academic semester, first semester, first year students who planned to enter the teacher education program participated in several readings, activities, assignments, and discussions developed to facilitate self and cultural awareness. The findings from analyses of these artifacts indicate that pre-service teachers began to demonstrate deeper awareness of how personal opinions and biases influenced their interactions with others and the types of dispositions related to appreciating diversity (Akiba, 2011) in urban classrooms.

Authors

• Heather Marie Coffey, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Erik Jon Byker, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Susan Harden

• Amy J. Good, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Tina Lane Heafner, University of North Carolina - Charlotte