Ideas

Idea #3: Including Multiple Perspectives in Course Materials

"Exposure to diverse content can provide a more comprehensive understanding of your subject matter, increase empathy, improve communication and teamwork skills, and validate your students' experiences." —Bryce Hughes, et al.

Learning Intentions

Incorporating a variety of voices, identities, cultures, and industries in course materials broadens the ideas available for students, providing them the opportunity for a far richer scope of perspectives on the subject. This may help break down barriers and enable students to see themselves as belonging in the field of study.

Strategies

• Start Small: Develop in phases rather than overhauling your entire course.
• Be Critical: Take a careful look at who is and isn't represented in your course materials. Be transparent about problematic portions with students.
• Try on Perspectives: Try researching course concepts from identities, perspectives, and cultures other than your own.
• Listen: Provide students the opportunity to bring their own opinions, experiences, and perspectives, rather than centering your own; allow for critical feedback.
• Replace: If you can't immediately cut a text with problematic elements, supplement with more modern, less problematic texts, even short articles.
• Diversify "Texts": Aside from diversifying readings, supplement with current articles, invite speakers, offer field experiences, use unique examples in homework, and incorporate case studies where lack of diverse voices led to worse outcomes.

Benefits

• Accurately represent the range of content creators in your discipline.
• Use diverse examples beyond the typical stereotypes to stop these perspectives from perpetuating in your field.
• Ensure content is current and relevant for students for better engagement.

Resources

• Davishahl, J. (2025). Creating Belonging in Engineering Education. Innovative Teaching Showcase. Center for Instructional Innovation, Western Washington University.
• Hogan, K.A., & Sathy, V. (2022). Inclusive Teaching: Strategies for Promoting Equity in the College Classroom. West Virginia University Press. Retrieved May 2025.
• Hughes, B., Rinio, D., & DeVries, K. (n.d.). Diversifying Course Content. Access and Success. Montana State University, Retrieved May 2025.
• McLaughlin, J. (2025). Cultivating Belonging in Field Science Education. Innovative Teaching Showcase. Center for Instructional Innovation, Western Washington University.
• Stanford School of Business. (2023). Engaging With Difference in Course Content. Teaching and Learning Hub, Retrieved May 2025.