Reducing Bias

Reducing bias is important for creating inclusive classrooms where all students can succeed. Stanford faculty member Geoffrey Cohen summarizes relevant psychology research for creating inclusive classrooms in a 2015 presentation at Pomona College.

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Reducing Bias: Culturally Responsive Classrooms
Reducing Bias: Creating a Fair Learning Environment

Ask students to write about what they value or what is meaningful to them in their life as a whole.

Before a stress inducing assignment, help students positively reframe their feelings of stress and shift from a “threat mindset” to an “opportunity mindset.”

Avoid sensitive topics that are not relevant to the course content to avoid unnecessarily making students uncomfortable.

Explain metaphors or cultural references that you use in class to ensure that students understand how it relates to the course content.

Tell students your “personal gender pronouns” (PGP) and have them share theirs to enable class participants to show respect and avoid embarrassment or humiliation.

Avoid reinforcing even seemingly positive stereotypes to avoid creating inappropriate pressures and expectations.

Practice saying students names to ensure that you correctly pronounce all students names.

Publicize low-cost or no-cost alternatives to course materials when possible to ensure students’ financial background does not determine their ability to participate.

Clarify how students can get involved in research to ensure that students unfamiliar with academic research can pursue this activity.

Schedule exams to not conflict with religious holidays to ensure all students can celebrate their religious holidays.