Utilizing Diversity in the Classroom as a Powerful Teaching Resource

​As educators, we aim to prepare students to succeed in a diverse and multicultural world. It's important to teach diversity and tolerance in the classroom. By helping students become empathetic and open-minded, we can make a big difference in their lives and in society.
The new edition of the course “Diversity in the classroom: teaching tolerance and overcoming prejudices and discrimination​” took place in Tenerife from 12/05/2024 to 18/05/2024. The participants came from all across Europe, with Mónica  and Margarida from Agrupamento de Escolas de Vila Viçosa in Portugal, Diana, Galina and Rolanda from Gija Youth School in Lithuania, Martina from Dječji vrtić Radost in Croatia, Iva from Trgovačka škola Zagreb in Croatia, Marijke, Olga and Judith from OSG de Ring van Putten from Netherlands, Lisa from Landesinstitut für Schule und Medien Berlin Brandenburg in Germany, Christian from BBS Holzmiden in Germany.
The first part of our course was about exploring identity. Teachers did an activity where they drew self-portraits, showing both how they look and what's important to them personally. We talked about how our identities affect the way we see the world and interact with others.
We also tackled the challenges of recognizing and promoting cultural diversity. A TED talk encouraged us to ask "where are you local" instead of "where are you from," focusing on how our broader cultural experiences shape us, not just our country.
We discussed stereotypes: why they exist, how they impact us both negatively and positively, and how they can lead to judgments and discrimination. We used storytelling to illustrate how stereotypes can evolve.
We covered the important topic of awareness and respect. We explored how our perceptions of the world are influenced by our own identities, and did activities and simulations to help us think critically about how our values and culture influence each other.
The course section on inclusion helped us understand what it feels like to be left out and the challenges of including others. 
Overall, it was a week filled with learning, practice, and meaningful discussions, enriching everyone involved with new insights and emotions.
Discover more about this course here.