Learning and Diversity

Diversity is when individuals differ in race, ethnicity, gender, class, language, religion, ability, geography, and/or age. Teachers will be required to teach in diverse classrooms with a variety of cultures and diversities. It is important for teachers to first learn how learning occurs in order to effectively teach all students in a diverse classroom. According to Moore (2009), learning is defined as “relatively permanent change in an individual’s capacity for performance as a result of experience or practice” (p.61). Learning is a complex process of acquiring and using information that takes place in the brain. Each and every person learns differently and at different rates. According to Culyer and Ebert (2008), “There is no age which all people are on the same intellectual level either at a starting point or as a level of attainment. Thus, you can expect that all students in your classroom will represent a range of intellectual ability” (p.84). Some of the most crucial information to a developing teacher is knowing that all students learn at different levels and that all students will not be on grade level.

All learning takes place in the brain by neurological connections. The brain is constantly changing and growing from conception to birth and even after birth. The brain is composed of neurons which are nerve cells that transport signals by being connected to one another. According to Santrock (2009), “[the] connectivity among neurons increases, creating new neural pathways” during the first year of a child’s life. Researchers have discovered an intriguing aspect of synaptic connections. Nearly twice as many of these connections are made as will ever be used” (p.148). Synaptic “blooming and pruning” occurs w...

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...students and their interest to keep them motivated to learn. Learning should be encouraged by all teachers. Learning is a complex process that occurs in a diverse society.

Works Cited

Culyer, R.C.,& Ebert, S. E. (2008).School: An introduction to education(2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Eliot, L. (2010). The myth of pink & blue brains.Educational Leadership, 68(3), 32-36. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Gurian, M. (2010) Boys and girls learn differently! A guide for teachers and parents (10th ed.). New York, NY: Jossey-Bass.

King, K., Gurian, M., & Stevens, K. (2010). Gender-friendly schools. Educational Leadership, 68(3), 38-42. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Moore, K.D. (2009) Effective instructional strategies: From theory to practice (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Santrock, J.R. (2009) Children (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.