A Collaborative Journey Toward Understanding the Role of Social Class in Teaching and Learning

Abstract

One important area of development for educators at all levels is teaching students from diverse backgrounds, which includes attention to the important role of social class. In this reflective essay, two teacher educators and four students (two graduate, two undergraduate) examine the aspects of a course on social class and schooling that they perceive to have influenced favorable change in their learning and practice. Individual writings by the six participants at three checkpoints during and after the course generated four themes that the authors discuss in relation to the course content and pedagogy: salient content; effective instructional approaches; application of course material; and suggested improvements. Factors that contributed to course effectiveness included a focus on deep growth involving knowledge and dispositions; instructional methods that encouraged meaningful participant engagement and reflection in a “safe” classroom environment; and practical applications for course material. Suggested improvements centered on including direct engagement experiences and exploring individual course topics in greater depth.