Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
SOME SOLUTIONS
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
SOME SOLUTIONS
What actions should be taken to close the achievement gaps of children?
Consider actions at classroom and school levels.
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
O .T
The ecology of diversity
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
Societal-level Accommodations
O Reduce poverty
• adjust taxation rates
• provide living wages
• provide welfare benefits
• provide housing subsidies
• provide paid parental leave
• make quality child support arrangements
• manage the costs of childcare and health care
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
Interest convergence helps explain shifts in behaviour and policies
O
Derek Bell: Brown vs Board of Education 1954O Angela Merkel: acceptance of 800,000 refugees
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
System-level Accommodations
Implement inclusive education
• broaden our conceptualisation of inclusion
• there is too much segregation of children
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
System-level Accommodations
Implement inclusive education
• broaden our conceptualisation of inclusion
• there is too much segregation of children
• rationale:
• segregation is violation of human rights
• democracy
• Allport’s Intergroup Contact Theory
• economic
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
System-level Accommodations
How should we deal with cultural differences?
Assimilation
Multiculturalism
Interculturalism ✓
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
System-level Accommodations
Implement intercultural education
UNESCO (2005) Council of Europe, 2008 White Paper
• respect the cultural identity of learners through the provision of culturally appropriate and responsive education
• provide all learners with cultural knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to achieve active and full
participation in society
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
System-level Accommodations
Develop early prevention and intervention programmes
O
45 million words vs 13 million wordsO early brain development is crucial
O preschool provisions
O early identification and remediation of children’s lack of progress and behaviour difficulties whenever they occur
O parent involvement and training
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
System-level Accommodations
Develop early prevention and intervention programmes
James Heckman
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
System-level Accommodations
O Introduce full-service schools
integrate education, medical, social and/or human services on single campus
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
System-level Accommodations
O Develop and implement appropriate language policies
* Maintain children’s mother tongue while they learn the host language.
* Employ children’s mother tongue as the language of instruction in children’s early education.
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
School-level Accommodations
O Avoid streaming and ability grouping
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
Technology has the potential to transform education
• ICT) is increasingly influencing what, where, and how we teach
• BUT: the digital divide exists
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
Classroom-level accommodations
Allow reason and evidence to determine policies and practices
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
Classroom-level accommodations
Allow reason and evidence to determine policies and practices
O Cooperative group teaching
O Peer tutoring
O Cognitive strategy instruction
O Formative assessment & feedback
O Direct Instruction
O Review and practice
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
Classroom-level Accommodations
O Adopt Universal Design for Learning principles
-
provide flexible cognitive, as well as physical, access to the curriculum, assessment and pedagogy for all studentsDiversities in Education
David Mitchell 2016
Educators and those who prepare them for their responsibilities play critical roles in educating diverse learners
• Initial teacher education
• Ongoing professional development
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
Focus on the uniqueness of individuals, by
varying content, activities, teaching, learning, methods and resources to take into account the range of interests, needs and experience of individual students
Diversities in Education
David Mitchell 2016
The news is not all bad!
Kishore Mahbubani & Lawrence Summers (2016). ‘The fusion of civilizations: The case for global optimism.’ Foreign Affairs,
May/June 2016.
Radelet, Steven. ‘Prosperity rising: The success of global development—and how to keep it going.’ Foreign Affairs, January/February 2016.
Steven Pinker. The better angels of our nature: Why violence has declined, 2011.
Education in an Era of Superdiversity
David Mitchell 2016
‘Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.’ (H.G. Wells)
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