Discuss the learning experiences and cultural competencies

3 pages

Nikhil Goyal is a successful high school student who, like many students his age, hates school. But unlike most students his age, Nikhil wrote a speech about it and delivered it to a global audience his presentation Why Kids Hate School?: Nikhil Goyal at TEDxYouth@BFS (Links to an external site.). In his presentation, Nikhil shares the story of another student, Nick Perez. The central theme of the presentation is relevance and, specifically, how schools often lack relevance to the lives of their learners.

In this assignment, you will reflect on the story of Nick Perez and analyze it based on what might have happened differently if Nick’s education targeted the learning of 21st century skills through culturally relevant learning opportunities. Additionally, you will recommend a culturally relevant learning experience that might have been able to meet Nick’s needs in high school. Review the Instructor Guidance for this week for additional information and use the Ladson-Billing (1995; summarized in the Instructor Guidance) resource and Chapters 4 and 8 of Wardle (2013) to define a culturally relevant learning experience; apply this framework to the creation of solutions. Then, create your paper to meet the content and written communication expectations stated below.

In your paper, include the following: (3 points)

Discuss the learning experiences and cultural competencies that you believe were valued at Nick’s school, based on the information presented in the video and which learning experiences and cultural competencies would be most applicable and interesting to Nick using his interest in computers as a form of his cultural identity (think about the way that he described his life at home and at computer camp). Include examples using at least two of the following four characteristics of cultural competence:

Awareness of one’s own cultural worldview (including biases)

Knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews

Positive attitudes and open-mindedness toward cultural differences

Ability to work successfully with others from different cultures

Determine which of the 4C skills (i.e., creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, communication, and collaboration that are presented in The 4Cs Research Series (Links to an external site.)) you perceive are most likely relevant to Nick’s current position as a programmer in an advertising firm and which of these skills you perceive are not adequately addressed in typical classroom environments today (2 points).

Summarize how the acquisition of learning and innovation skills through culturally relevant instruction can lead to greater student success in the classroom and in the real world. Include examples using at least three of the following nine areas of culturally relevant instruction (2 points):

Maximizing academic success through relevant instructional experiences

Addressing cultural competence through reinforcing students’ cultural integrity

Involving students in the construction of knowledge

Building on students’ interests and linguistic resources

Tapping home and community resources

Understanding students’ cultural knowledge

Using interactive and constructivist teaching strategies

Examining the curriculum from multiple perspectives

Promoting critical consciousness through opportunities to challenge predominant elements of the students’ social norms