TrillEDU: Culturally Responsive Pedagogy... | Jeffrey Dessources | TEDxNewJerseyCityUniversity

Summary

This engaging script explores culturally responsive teaching and leadership, emphasizing the importance of integrating students' cultural backgrounds into education. The speaker draws on personal experiences in student development and higher education, relating the concepts to elements of hip-hop, such as graffiti, breakdancing, and MCing, to highlight the need for innovation, risk-taking, and authentic communication. The message encourages educators to adapt to changing times, understand diverse student experiences, and foster a leadership model that values both students and educators as lifelong learners. Ultimately, it's a call for cultural responsibility and responsiveness in reshaping education.

Takeaways

• 😀 Culturally responsive teaching integrates students' cultural references into their learning, enhancing both their academic experience and cultural identity.
• 😀 Higher education institutions, like Brown University, highlight the importance of culturally responsive teaching for student development beyond the classroom.
• 😀 Being culturally responsive in education goes beyond the classroom and should extend to leadership and representation of students' cultures outside academic spaces.
• 😀 Effective communication is key to culturally responsive leadership, requiring authentic conversations that elevate the level of engagement with students.
• 😀 Hip-hop culture is used as an analogy for culturally responsive leadership, emphasizing the need to blend different cultural elements while maintaining authenticity.
• 😀 Graffiti art serves as a metaphor for diversifying leadership perspectives, encouraging leaders to reach and represent diverse communities.
• 😀 Just as breakdancers take risks, educators must be willing to take risks and step outside their comfort zones to foster cultural responsiveness in education.
• 😀 Culturally responsive leadership requires an innovative mindset, constantly adapting to changes in technology, culture, and the needs of students.
• 😀 As a New Yorker, the speaker uses the decline in value of yellow cabs to emphasize the importance of innovation and adaptability in leadership and education.
• 😀 Everyone, regardless of their age or experience, is both an educator and a student, and this mutual learning is central to culturally responsive education.
• 😀 Culturally responsive education prepares students not just academically, but also for the innovations and changes occurring outside their immediate space, fostering leadership and responsibility.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the need for a movement to reshape education by being culturally responsive, innovative, and ensuring that students are equipped to navigate their future.

Q & A

What is culturally responsive teaching?

Culturally responsive teaching is a pedagogy that recognizes the importance of incorporating students' cultural backgrounds into their learning experiences. This approach ensures that education is relevant to students' diverse cultural identities, making learning more meaningful and accessible.

Why is cultural representation important outside the classroom?

Cultural representation outside the classroom is crucial because it ensures that students see themselves reflected in various leadership and development roles. This strengthens their sense of belonging and identity, which contributes to their overall development and success.

How can communication be raised to a higher level in education?

Communication can be raised to a higher level by having authentic, meaningful conversations with students, respecting their backgrounds, and connecting with them on a deeper level. This approach fosters trust and ensures that students feel heard and understood.

What role does hip-hop play in culturally responsive leadership?

Hip-hop represents a cultural movement that emphasizes self-expression, storytelling, and creativity. In culturally responsive leadership, it is used as a metaphor for blending diverse elements, encouraging risk-taking, and fostering communication that is genuine and relevant to the students' lived experiences.

How can educators adapt their leadership to be more culturally responsive?

Educators can adapt by embracing diversity in all its forms, taking risks in their teaching methods, and constantly innovating. They need to move beyond traditional practices and find ways to connect with students from various cultural backgrounds, ensuring that all students feel represented and supported.

What is the significance of graffiti art in culturally responsive leadership?

Graffiti art is a symbol of creative expression that challenges traditional boundaries. It represents how diverse perspectives, much like diverse students, should be embraced and celebrated. Graffiti encourages leaders to diversify their approaches and reach students in unexpected ways.

What does breakdancing symbolize in the context of education?

Breakdancing symbolizes risk-taking, creativity, and challenging conventional norms. In education, it serves as a reminder that educators and students alike need to be willing to step outside their comfort zones and embrace new ways of thinking and learning.

How does innovation relate to culturally responsive leadership?

Innovation is essential in culturally responsive leadership because it allows educators to continuously adapt to the changing needs of their students and the evolving cultural landscape. Innovation ensures that teaching methods stay relevant and effective, helping students engage with modern tools and issues.

What is the concept of 'trill edu' mentioned in the speech?

'Trill edu' refers to an approach to education that emphasizes authenticity and staying true to one's cultural roots while embracing innovation and change. It combines cultural relevance with progressive educational practices to prepare students for the future.

How does the story of Harriet Tubman relate to culturally responsive education?

The story of Harriet Tubman highlights the importance of resilience, leadership, and empowerment in the face of adversity. In the context of culturally responsive education, it underscores the need for educators to guide students toward leadership and freedom, even if they haven't yet discovered those paths themselves.