Online students’ perceptions of their class climate can have a dramatic impact on their learning. Teaching which is supportive and inclusive has been demonstrated to be more effective than that which is directive and marginalizing (Dewsbury et al, 2019). However, creating a learning environment, particularly one online, that supports all students can be challenging, especially when one considers the myriad ways in which inclusion and dis-inclusion can manifest themselves:
A recent working Group at the University of Columbia developed five principles that exemplify inclusive teaching practices in online learning. Similar principles are proposed by ARENA in their course “Getting started with inclusive curriculum – online“. The main principles are:
- Principle 1: Establish and support a class climate that fosters belonging for all students
- Principle 2: Set explicit student expectations
- Principle 3: Select course content that recognizes diversity and acknowledges barriers to inclusion
- Principle 4: Design all course elements for accessibility
- Principle 5: Reflect on one’s beliefs about teaching (online) to maximize self-awareness and commitment to inclusion
The Master’s in Public Health (MPH) at University College London is a career focused programme aimed at solving some of the most pressing issues in public health today. This programme was specifically designed to be delivered wholly online, providing greater flexibility for those who have work, family and lifestyle commitments. It aims to address global challenges with cases across low-middle- and high-income countries. In this blog, we will give examples of how the MPH has attempted to promote the five principles of inclusivity with examples from modules covering the fundamentals of public health and quantitative analysis in public health.
The aims of this blog are to:
- Describe the inclusivity components of the MPH
- Present examples of inclusive practices on the MPH
- Obtain feedback from the wider UCL community on inclusivity practices
The content for this blog is delivered though an articulate package (please click here) so that the audience can view examples of content from teaching on the MPH.
