Online Courses for Teachers

Leveraging Culturally Responsive Engagement Strategies

(Grades 6-12) / Flex Course

PDI Course Number: 152T02 / UCSD Course Number: EDUC42574

Course Description

Have you been searching for strategies that are specifically designed to help your diverse students become more motivated and engaged in the classroom, and ultimately in the learning process itself? Do you seek to make your classroom atmosphere more positive, nurturing, and inclusive, making students feel safe and confident in taking risks while sharing their cultural experiences? Much more than simply a strategy for effective teaching, culturally responsive teaching (CRT) is a mindset and holistic approach to educating students that has both academic and social-emotional benefits for all students, including increased motivation and engagement. This online course for teachers is designed for middle and high school educators who are looking to explore a variety of evidence-based strategies that are rooted in the principles of CRT as a way to boost student engagement. Teachers will gain strategies that help foster engagement with a student-centered approach, growth mindset, and allyship. Teachers will understand how trauma impacts engagement and how to overcome this obstacle. Teachers will also learn how to shift their classroom management style by embracing culturally responsive best practices as they build positive relationships with their students. Time will be spent sharing how to create well-designed, engaging lessons and activities that serve to not only engage students more thoroughly in the learning process, but also reduce misbehaviors by keeping students motivated and focused on their learning, especially when the activities are responsive to students’ cultural needs. Teachers will also learn how to make grading practices more equitable. By the end of this continuing education course, middle and high school teachers will feel more confident and successful in their quest to embed best CRT principles into their own teaching practices so that all their students are more motivated and engaged in the classroom and in life. This online professional development course is worth 3 ⅓ semester units/5 quarter units (50 hours of training) from University of California San Diego (UCSD) Division of Extended Studies. For detailed information on receiving university credit for your PDI professional development course, visit our credit page.

Need help? Kimya Nabavi, PDI Program Coordinator, is ready to assist.

This course inspired me to push myself out of my comfort zone and cultivate a different perspective on learning. - Danielle Pomraning