Describe at least two resources currently available in your area for someone needing special services related to your chosen aspect of diversity.

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The final assignment for this course is a Research Paper. The purpose of the Research Paper is for you to culminate the learning achieved in the course.

Focus of the Research Paper
For your Research Paper, select one aspect of cultural diversity from the following list that you would like to study:
* (For improved memory and increased awareness, remember the mnemonic, GARREACS.)

  • Gender
  • Age
  • Race
  • Religion
  • Ethnicity
  • Ability
  • Class
  • Sexual Orientation

Once you have chosen one aspect of cultural diversity to study in depth, prepare a Research Paper with the following components:

  • Summarize the pertinent historical, political, social, economic and cultural factors related to your chosen aspect of diversity.
  • Consider and summarize any relevant developmental theory models related to your chosen aspect of diversity.
  • In regard to your chosen aspect of diversity, identify and evaluate the relevant laws or programs that have either helped or restricted access to care and support.
  • Evaluate how your chosen aspect of diversity, in combination with two other aspects of diversity, can lead to increased needs or issues. For example, if someone is female, African American, and lesbian, will there be additional challenges? Select any combination of 3 aspects of diversity to discuss.
  • Describe at least two resources currently available in your area for someone needing special services related to your chosen aspect of diversity.
  • Explain how your personal characteristics will either complement or conflict with this diversity issue. Consider your own biases and prejudices or those of your family of origin.
  • Discuss relevant concerns, cautions or insights necessary for you to be a culturally competent human service professional.

Writing the Research Paper
The Research Paper:

  • Must be eight- to ten double-spaced pages in length, and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
  • Must include a title page with the following:
    • Title of paper
    • Student’s name
    • Course name and number
    • Instructor’s name
    • Date submitted
  • Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
  • Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
  • Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
  • Must use at least seven scholarly sources.
  • Must document all sources in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
  • Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Explain at least two short-term and long-term consequences for students who have little/no access to technology.

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Prior to beginning work on this assignment, read the assigned chapter in Introduction to education: Choosing to teach by Krogh. Chapter 7 addresses the changing role of the educator as a result of 21st-century skills and technology. This chapter will also examine various classroom models for the changing role of teachers and students in addition to the advantages and disadvantages of technology in the classroom.

In addition, reading The Power of Technology will help you to understand how technology helps educators manage and lead learning with precision. Viewing Active learning – Technology in the classroom will help you to discover ways in which technology is being utililzed in the classroom from elementary to college.

In your paper,

  • Define Digital Divide and analyze three factors which contribute to it.
  • Explain at least two short-term and long-term consequences for students who have little/no access to technology.
  • Describe the role teachers play in narrowing the digital divide among students.
  • Examine strategies teachers can use to minimize the digital divide both inside and outside of the classroom.

While technology has its benefits, not all students have the same kind of access to current hardware and software. This difference in the “haves” vs. the “have-nots” is what we call the digital divide, which emphasizes that, while all students have equal access to attend schools, their education is not equitable.

Introductory Paragraph: Begin with an attention getter—a powerful statement, an intriguing question, or a general overview of the challenges faced those plagued by the digital divide. Develop your ideas and end your introductory paragraph with a thesis using the Thesis Generator (Links to an external site.) found in the Ashford Writing Center.  Convey how we can minimize or narrow the digital divide. This thesis should then be supported in the body of your paper.

Body Paragraphs: (Refer to the Body Paragraphs (Links to an external site.) resource found in the Ashford Writing Center.)

  • Definition of Digital Divide: Explain the term digital divide in your own words and at least three specific factors that contribute to it. Refer to Chapter 7.4 of your text to support your views.
  • Consequences of Digital Divide: Explain at least two negative consequences for students in the classroom who suffer as a result of the digital divide. Consider both short and long term effects for those students who do not have any or consistent access to technology.
  • Teacher Role: Describe the role teachers play in narrowing the digital divide among students. Provide two or three examples of how the teacher can minimize the extent of the digital divide both in and outside the classroom.
  • Conclusion Paragraph: Return to your most important points from your paper and how they have combined to form your belief about narrowing the digital divide. Emphasize your thesis statement again and bring your paper to a powerful close by leaving the reader with more to ponder or consider. Do not simply restate the introductory paragraph here; the conclusion should reframe your thoughts in a different way.

You have several options in completing this task:

  1. Write a two- to three-page paper (not including title page or reference page).
  2. Develop a PowerPoint presentation using the How To Make a PowerPoint Presentation (Links to an external site.) resource found in the Ashford Writing Center.
  3. Utilize a digital tool such as Prezi, Voicethread, Knovia that is 8-10 slides long (does not include title page slide or reference page slide).

If choosing options b or c, it is strongly encouraged that you provide audio support.

You must include a title page, reference page, introduction and conclusion regardless of which option you choose. Reference Chapter 7 of the course text and at least one additional, scholarly source using the Ashford library. You may find the Introduction to APA (Links to an external site.) resource helpful, found in the Ashford Writing Center.  Refer to the Week 4 Template for additional support.

Explain what the fields of adult education and educational psychology say about the activities that take place in each of the three phases of college instruction.

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After reading “A Self-directed Guide to Designing Courses for Significant Learning,” by Fink (2003) (link below), respond to the following statements for the three phases, the (initial design phase, intermediate design phase, and final design phase) of course development introduced.

Fink, L. (2003). A self-directed guide to designing courses for significant learning Retrieved from http://www.deefinkandassociates.com/GuidetoCourseDesignAug05.pdf.

  1. Describe how each phase is best conceptualized at the college level.
  2. Explain how relevant each phase is to the success of the college teaching-learning effort.
  3. Discuss the areas of each phase in need of theoretical elaboration or further research.
  4. Explain what the fields of adult education and educational psychology say about the activities that take place in each of the three phases of college instruction.

Feel free to creatively respond to the guiding statements with a document, video response, slide presentation, mind map or another format of your choosing. However you choose to respond, be sure to provide access to your instructor by uploading all the necessary files, and providing all necessary links and/or text in a document. Although there is no page or length requirement for this assignment to allow creative freedom, make sure that you have fully addressed all the required topics listed above, using the textbook and at least one additional source to support your answers. You will need to find appropriate sources of information to answer the questions. Be sure to cite your sources appropriately both in-text and separate reference page in APA format as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

What should instructors do to prepare for the first day, and what should actually occur on the first day? 

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Guided Response: Respond to my peer post, providing feedback on the effectiveness of their course preparation. Extend their thinking by offering suggested activities.

 

Kim Spiegel

Discuss the importance of the first day of a course and what instructors should model for their students.

They always say first impressions are what matter the most because they set the tone for the rest of the school year.  The first day of class can be exciting for new students because they meet their new teacher, see who is going to be in their class, and also look at what the course requirements are.  Students want to see a teacher that is excited about learning and teaching them new ideas and concepts.  They do not want to see a teacher who is late to class, unprepared, or unenthusiastic.  If a teacher comes the first day unprepared then students will come to class unprepared.  The first day sets the expectations for future classes.

What should instructors do to prepare for the first day, and what should actually occur on the first day? 

Teachers should have a prepared syllabus on the first day of class that outlines class requirements, due dates, and assignments.  They should also have a plan on what they want to do for the first day whether it be introductions or a game to get to know their students.  They need to be organized, and probably should have an introduction prepared that talks about themselves and what they are hoping to get out of the class.  I don’t think the first day should have too much.  I never liked teachers that gave an assignment on the first day, so I probably won’t either.

How should instructors prepare differently for teaching on campus versus teaching online? 

I think that on-line teachers might want to be prepared with a video so students have an idea of who they are talking to.  Classroom teachers get to face their students one on one, but on-line teachers do not have that option.  I also think that having a syllabus posted on-line for students to have that outlines the course is very important, although classroom teachers should have one ready to pass out. I also think on-line teachers need to stress the importance of participation because that is really all they have to go on.  Classroom teachers are able to do all kinds of assessments, but on-line teachers really have video chat or written postings.