Teacher Bias in the Virtual Classroom (Poster 11)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Fifteen
  In Poster Session: Equity, Community, and Citizenship

Abstract

We examined whether patterns of teachers’ race and gender biases found in prior research would emerge in a virtual teaching context. We asked a national sample of 989 teachers to evaluate student work pictured in screenshots of a virtual classroom showing students explaining their work. We randomly assigned the images of students depicted in the virtual classroom and tested whether the race or gender of the student would trigger biases with regards to teachers’ evaluation of correctness, student ability, and recommendations that students be tested for gifted programs or special education services. We found no evidence of correctness or ability bias, but that teachers recommended male students more often to be tested for gifted programs and Black students for IEPs.

Authors

• Yasemin Copur-Gencturk, University of Southern California
  Presenting Author

• Ian Thacker, University of Texas - San Antonio
  Presenting Author

• Joseph R. Cimpian, New York University
  Presenting Author