Getting Started with Inclusive Teaching Strategies

Consider the following to get started with inclusive teaching strategies:

  • Incorporate diversity into your overall curriculum.
  • Be intentional about creating a safe learning environment by utilizing ground rules.
  • Be proactive in connecting with and learning about your students.
  • Utilize a variety of teaching strategies, activities, and assignments that will accommodate the needs of students with diverse learning styles, abilities, backgrounds, and experiences. 
  • Use universal design principles to create accessible classes. For example, present information both orally and visually to accommodate both students with visual or auditory impairments in addition to students with various learning preferences.
  • When possible, provide flexibility in how students demonstrate their knowledge and how you assess student knowledge and development. Vary your assessments (for example, incorporate a blend of collaborative and individual assignments) or allow choice in assignments (for example, give students multiple project topics to choose from, or have students determine the weight of each assignment on their final grade at the beginning of the semester).
  • Be clear about how students will be evaluated and graded. Provide justifications.
  • Take time to assess the classroom climate by obtaining mid-semester feedback from students.
    • Pass out index cards during class for anonymous feedback.
    • Ask students to rate from one to five how comfortable they are in class. Also ask for two suggestions for how they could feel more comfortable.
    • Conduct a Qualtrics survey.
    • Discuss your findings in the next class and share any changes you will make regarding the feedback.