Effective Structure for a Social Justice Course

• In Event: 3423 - Teaching and Learning Symposium Roundtable
  In Informal Discussion Roundtable: Table 11: Teaching Social Justice

Abstract

In today’s divided America, it is even more important to effectively teach a course focused on social justice issues. This presentation seeks to describe a process of teaching social justice issues that move students to engagement and change. Using The Meaning of Difference: American Constructions of Race and Ethnicity, Sex and Gender, Social Class, Sexuality, and Disability by Rosenblum and Travis as the principal text for the course, I have developed a four part course to (hopefully) move students toward engagement and social action. The ten-minute presentation describes the process of exposure, self-reflection, action and a reminder as a method to illicit social action to combat the injustice in our present communities. Examples of the assignments will be presented along with student feedback on the components of the course. This presentation would be useful to individuals charged with teaching a social justice or diversity course.

Author

• Gloria S. Vaquera, John Carroll University