Taking Anti-Racism Curriculum Online: Breaking Down Barriers, Building Trust, and Encouraging Engagement

Keywords: online discussion, Universal Design for Learning, anti-racism

Abstract: Discussion facilitates learning, and there are many benefits to discussion (Brookfield, 2005). Yet, instead of discussion in the online learning environment, we often see an oversimplified exchange of opinions. There is a lack of depth, connection, internalization, and engagement with each other’s opinions, all things that make discussions such a valuable learning tool. This can be even more challenging when the content of the course is difficult, emotional, and invites personal vulnerability. In this session, we explore the challenges with facilitating meaningful discussion in online anti-racism courses while managing emotional labor and the effects of the pandemic. We discuss how the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework can give us new ways of thinking about our courses. You will leave with resources for UDL, teaching strategies that have been used and proven effective in these courses, and ideas for how to implement them in your own course.