Reading the White Space in a Multicultural Field Experience

Autor/inn/en	Sassi, Kelly; Lajimodiere, Denise; Bertolini, Katherine; Ketterling, Gerald
Titel	Reading the White Space in a Multicultural Field Experience
Quelle	In: Multicultural Education, 19 (2012) 4, S.41-46 (6 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1068-3844
Schlagwörter	Multicultural Education; Field Experience Programs; Teacher Education Programs; Cultural Awareness; Whites; Consciousness Raising; Student Teacher Attitudes; Professional Identity; Identification (Psychology); Attitude Change; Racial Attitudes; Student Diversity; Qualitative Research; Student Journals + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Multikulturelle Erziehung; Praxisnahes Lernen; Cultural identity; Kulturelle Identität; White; Weißer; Bewusstseinsbildung; Attitudinal change; Einstellungsänderung; Rassenfrage; Qualitative Forschung; Studentenzeitung
Abstract	The overarching goal of multicultural education is "to help all students acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to participate in cross-cultural interactions and in personal, social, and civic action that will help make our nation more democratic and just" (Banks, 2006, p. 202). In pursuit of this goal, teacher educators must "ensure the preparation of teachers for a diverse student population" (Hollins, 2008, p. 5). This is a complex and challenging endeavor. This study focuses on the preparation of these new teachers, specifically their field experience. The literature suggests field experience is more effective when it combines exposure to different backgrounds, travel, and related education, and includes reflection and appropriate processing, as well as a contextualization of the issues at the field site in relation to larger social issues. Extending the time at a field site may also contribute to greater comfort and more favorable attitudes toward teaching in a multicultural environment (Wiggins et al, 2007, p. 6). Building on the previous research, this study addresses the following questions: (1) What kinds of identity statuses do our pre-service teachers have? (2) What kinds of information processing strategies do they use when they reflect on multicultural readings and a multicultural field experience? (3) What do their identity statuses and information processing strategies tell us about their development of multicultural awareness and sensitivity? The authors conclude that teacher educators must both attend to and challenge concerns about pre-service teachers staying comfortable. Challenging assumptions about educational practice involves providing pre-service teachers with opportunities to be pushed out of their comfort zones and to de-center themselves. What the study contributes is a recognition that those comfort zones differ for individuals, and de-centering may look different from person to person. (Contains 2 tables and 1 note.) (ERIC).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10