Pedagogy 2025
Abstract
The focus of this paper is to explore factors relevant for effective teaching strategies of a particular topic in a particular setting. The topic is multicultural psychology and the related issues of human diversity. The setting is an institution of higher learning that can be described as one which is overwhelmingly a reflection the dominant culture in all aspects including the demographics of majority of the student population and the context of their socialization. In the United States institutions of this type are referred as “Predominantly White Institutions” or PWI’s. Teaching this type of topic in this type of setting represents a challenge to student learning that is unique. This uniqueness is related to the effect and impact of racialized societies, as reflected in the perspectives of members of non-dominate or societally marginalized groups. The fact that the majority of members of this learning community may be unaware of this perspective impacts the institutional learning climate. Student reaction to course content such as white fragility, denial, anger, hostility, defensiveness, embarrassment, and resentment can represent a profound challenge to the amenability to learning. It may be more difficult for students to process and critically considering the new information, regardless of the credibility of the sources. Thus, pedagogical considerations are necessary as they relate to methods of transmission, types of information and demographic characteristics of both the instructor and the student to optimize the learning environment. It is a challenge that must be met to prepare global citizens in todays world.
Dr. Cade received her BA from the University of Michigan, her MA degree from Roosevelt University and her PhD from Iowa State University. She received her JD from Washington University School of Law. She has been engaged in private practice as a psychologist and as an attorney at law. Dr. Cade worked as a forensic psychologist in New York, Missouri and Massachusetts before become a full time faculty member at Roger Williams University in Bristol Rhode Island, in the United States. She teachings both graduate and undergraduate students in the Department of Psychology.