The Evolving Perceptions of Culturally Diverse Graduate Students on Multicultural Education

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: Preparing Teachers for Culturally Diverse Students and Multicultural Societies

Abstract

This study investigated how the perceptions of graduate students in a doctoral program in a midsized higher education institution in Southwest Florida evolved over a semester regarding multicultural education and impacted their careers and professional lives. A qualitative case study method was utilized. The findings indicated that post-doctoral coursework in the area of multicultural education produced three significant themes: 1) false understanding of what multicultural education encompassed, 2) increased awareness of self-biases, lack of resources and training, and 3) a feeling of helplessness where participants wanted to see transformation but were unable to affect change.

Authors

• Ashley Quinn Sheplak, Lee county school district

• Alyssa Sanabria, Florida Gulf Coast University

• Hasan Aydin, Florida Gulf Coast University