New inclusive pedagogy website helps educators create a more welcoming classroom environment

In support of the University of Chicago’s ongoing efforts to create an inclusive campus climate, the Chicago Center for Teaching (CCT) and the Office of the Provost recently developed a comprehensive new website devoted to inclusive pedagogy. Launched in September 2020, the site is designed to be a resource for educators to learn and adopt inclusive teaching practices. 

"Inclusive pedagogy offers a distinctive approach to teaching that, while providing opportunities to reduce unequal participation and performance, enhances learning opportunities for all students," says Cheryl R. Richardson, Director of Inclusive Teaching Initiatives. "It is an approach to teaching that sees diversity as an element of rigorous learning and calls on instructors to consciously employ and address the diversity that exists in their classrooms."

The inclusive pedagogy website provides an overview of how diversity and pedagogy relate to one another. It then offers a number of suggestions on how to create a more inclusive classroom environment. From tips on creating a more inclusive syllabus to strategies detailing how to lecture more inclusively and promote accessible learning spaces, the site offers educators a number of practices to incorporate into their courses and interactions with students. The website also offers a section on remote inclusion, along with a video series and downloadable worksheets to help guide academics through the inclusive pedagogy process.

The new website is just the latest in a series of initiatives designed to help UChicago educators foster more inclusive classroom environments. The CCT offers a variety of programming that builds on the experience of educators, including ongoing inclusive pedagogy workshops, a reading group, and small grant programs. Each interactive program highlights principles of inclusive pedagogy such as being aware of diversity, inequality, and bias; acknowledging and activating difference; and incorporating a range of scholarship while suggesting strategies that enact principles. The CCT also offers individual consultations for educators, departments, and divisions looking for personalized feedback on their teaching.  

Look for inclusive pedagogy workshops offered each quarter throughout the academic year. Upcoming sessions will be posted to the Faculty Development Program website. For more information about inclusive pedagogy at UChicago, contact Cheryl R. Richardson at richardsonc@uchicago.edu or William Rando at williamrando@uchicago.edu.