Peralta Equity Conference

I am looking forward to attending the Peralta Online Equity Conference which is a FREE, 3-day conference hosted by Peralta Community College District’s Online Equity Initiative!

On the 27th and 28th of April, I will be attending a number of presentations on diversity, equity and inclusion. The ones I am particularly looking forward to are:

1. Preparing and Supporting First Generation Students Before and After They Go to College (Frankie Frink & Jason Damon Bryan | Vance-Granville Community College (NC))

As I currently work with immigrant students from India, learning more about how to support these students is important. I want them to be successful as they embark on their learning journey in the Education Assistant Program as well as after they graduate.

2. Close the Metacognitive Equity Gap by Teaching Students How to Learn (Dr. Saundra McGuire | Louisiana State University)

Teaching metacognitive skills is something with which I struggle, so having a clearer understanding of how to reach my college students would be beneficial. I would not have to struggle so much to get them to understand the material and they wouldn’t labour so hard to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

In her article, Close the Metacognitive Equity Gap: Teach All Students How to Learn (2021), McGuire writes,

Over the last 20 years, I have seen countless students transform their academic performance by using simple metacognitive learning strategies that show them how to learn.

(McGuire, 2021)

3. The third presentation that caught my eye is, SUNY Exploring Emerging Technologies for Lifelong Learning and Success (Roberta (Robin) Sullivan | University at Buffalo (NY), Cherie Van Putten | Binghamton University (NY), Christine Marchese | Nassau Community College (NY)).

I will be able to explore various Open Educational Resources (OER) tools and resources through EmTechWIKI, engage with and use different emerging technologies and gain a better understanding of the SUNY #EmTechMOOC (Peralta Equity Conference – 2022 Apr 27 Sessions, 2022). After having viewed a number of wonderful presentation last week during RRU’s symposium, the concept of “open” has struck a chord with me in which I want to pursue further.

4. The final presentation, called Embracing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) in Classroom Through Storytelling, centers around creating an inclusive classroom for new college students through best practice and storytelling (Peralta Equity Conference – 2022 Apr 27 Sessions, 2022). The presenters include, Dr. Emad Rahim, Darrell Norman Burrell & Terrence Duncan from Bellevue University (NE).

5. However, Universal Design for Learning as an Equity Strategy with Breanne Kirsch from Briar Cliff University (IA), is another offering that is very appealing. Having utilized the principles of UDL for the last 8 years of my public school teaching career, being able to utilize these principles in a post secondary institution is something that has intrigued me. How can I have my lessons be more equitable, meaningful and engaging? How can I give my students more choice? Kirsh promises to,

…introduce the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework and how it can be utilized in higher education courses to promote equity and diminish barriers to learning.

(Peralta Equity Conference – 2022 Apr 27 Sessions, 2022).

References

McGuire, S. (2021). Close the MetacognitiveEquity Gap: Teach All Students How to

Learn. Journal of College Academic Support Programs, 4(1), 69–72.

https://doi.org/10.36896/4.1ep1

Peralta Equity Conference – 2022 Apr 27 Sessions. (2022). Peralta Equity Conference.

Retrieved April 20, 2022, from

https://sites.google.com/view/peraltaequityconference/2022-conference/2022-

program/2022-apr-27-sessions?authuser=0