Última revisión realizada:09/06/2020

Subject Name: Equality and Diversity in the Classroom
Study: Degree of Infancy (Bilingual Group)
ECTS Credits: 4
Year and four month period: Second year, first four month period
Type of subject: Compulsory

Presentation

This subject will deal with different terms that are closely related to each other and how they are applied in the classroom.

The first part introduces the basic concepts of equality and diversity. It also explains the main theoretical perspectives about diversity in the classroom.

In addition, we will study the issue of exclusion in the classroom. We will discuss the “hidden curriculum”. We will talk about intolerance and xenophobia and address school bullying and its possible consequences.

We will also address the issue of academic failure, the characteristics of stereotypes and prejudices and the way they can be handled. To this end, we will explain the Pygmalion effect and its relation with self-esteem.

In the second part of the subject, we will discuss the inclusive school, a school that relies on the collective work of the whole educational community and on interaction with its social environment.
At the same time, we will explore further the inclusion of ICT in society. We will analyse the changes brought about by the use of technologies, along with identification of exclusion caused by the digital gap.
Lastly, and in connection with the above, we will discuss the advantages of using ICT to draw attention to diversity, obtaining the students help with educational support needs and the accessible curriculum design.

Basic competences

  • BC3. Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) to make judgements that include a reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.
  • BC4.Students can transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to a specialised and non-specialised public.
  • BC5. Students have developed the learning skills required to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy.

General competences

  • GC3.Design and regulate learning spaces in contexts of diversity that address the unique educational needs of students, gender equality, equity and respect for human rights.
  • GC4. Promote coexistence inside and outside the classroom and address the peaceful resolution of conflicts. Know how to systematically observe contexts of learning and coexistence and know how to reflect on them.
  • GC7. Know the educational implications of information and communication technologies and, in particular, television in early childhood.
  • GC11. Reflect on classroom practices to innovate and improve teaching. Acquire habits and skills for autonomous and cooperative learning and promote it among students.

Specific competences

  • SC6. Know the pedagogical dimension of interaction with peers and adults and know how to promote participation in collective activities, cooperative work and individual effort.
  • SC13. Critically analyse and incorporate the most relevant issues of current society that affect family and school education: social and educational impact of audio-visual languages and screens; changes in intergenerational and gender relationships; multiculturalism and interculturality; discrimination and social inclusion and sustainable development.

Unit 1. Basic notions of equality and diversity

  • Equality, diversity, difference, justice and fairness
  • Diversity as a positive value and part of life
  • Relativism and ethnocentrism
  • Human dignity and human rights
  • Theoretical perspectives on diversity in the classroom

Unit 2. Exclusion in schools

  • The hidden curriculum
  • Intolerance and xenophobia
  • How to detect bullying in the classroom

Unit 3. Main factors in failure at school

  • Stereotypes and prejudices
  • Self-fulfilling prophecies, the Pygmalion effect
  • Other factors that influence failure at school

Unit 4. Inclusive schools and interculturality

  • The school as an open entity
  • Dialogue
  • Intercultural education and education for diversity
  • What an intercultural school is
  • Problems in the school environment
  • Actions
  • Proposals about interculturality for application in the classroom

Unit 5. Digital exclusion in the knowledge society

  • Transformations in the information and knowledge society
  • Access to information
  • Web 2.0: from consumers to creators
  • Risks of using ICT
  • The digital divide: a new type of exclusion
  • Education in the face of digital exclusion

Unit 6. The inclusion of ICT in the diverse school

  • Educational inclusion and digital inclusion
  • Digital inclusion in school, advantages and requirements
  • Changes in the idea of the educational process
  • Transformations in the roles of teachers and students
  • ICT as an element of attention to diversity
  • The use of ICT for students in need of educational support

The different tasks and activities programmed during the semester have been developed with the goal of adapting the learning process to the different capabilities, necessities and interests of the students.

The activities included in the subject are:

  • Work. These are activities of different types: reflection, case analysis, practice, etc.
  • Participation in events. Events are scheduled every week of the semester: virtual face-to-face sessions, discussion forums, tests.
  • Reading commentary. This is a very specific type of activity that consists in the analysis of texts of articles by expert authors in different units of the subject.

In the weekly program you can find the specific tasks you need to complete in this subject.

Download the program

These activities are combined with the following aspects:

  • Personal Study
  • Tutoring. The tutoring class can be implemented through different tools and means. During the course of the subject, the teacher-tutor plans the individual tutoring on specific days for the resolution of academic-oriented doubts through “Consultation sessions”. Supplementing these sessions, students have also available the “Ask your teacher” forum through which they can formulate questions and check the corresponding answers on general aspects of the subject. Due to the very nature of the media used, there are no fixed schedules for the students.
  • Mandatory on-site final exam.

The hours dedicated to each activity are detailed as follows:

ASSIGNMENTS HOURS % ATTENDANCE
Attendance to virtual classes 14 100 %
Master classes 8 0
Basic material study 33 0
Reading the additional resources 9 0
Tasks and self-evaluation tests 19 0
Tutoring 10 30 %
Collaborative work, forums, debates, etc. 5 0
Final exam 2 100%
Total 100 -

Basic bibliography

The section Basic Bibliography is essential for the course. If any document (reading, article,…) is not available in the virtual classroom, you will have to find it by other means: UNIR bookshop, virtual library…

The necessary texts for the study of this subject had been elaborated by UNIR and are available in a digital format for consultation, download and print in the virtual classroom.

  • Barragán, R., Cano, J., García, J. M. y Solera, E. (2016). Igualdad y diversidad en el aula. Manual para maestros de Infantil y Primaria. Logroño: Unir Editorial.

The evaluation system is based on the following numerical chart:

0 - 4, 9 Suspense (SS)
5,0 - 6,9 Approved (AP)
7,0 - 8,9 Notable (NT)
9,0 - 10 Sobresaliente (SB)

The grade is made up of two components:

On-site final exam (60%). At the end of the semester, you need to assist a mandatory on-site final exam. You need to pass the final exam so the grade obtained from the assignments (continuous assessment) is summed up to the final grade of the subject.

Continuous assessment (40%): this type of assessment will be measured through the different assignments you need to complete during the course:

Remember that you can check the points (value) of each assignment in the weekly program.

Take into account that the sum of the grades of the assignments included in the continuous assessment is 6 points. You can do as many as you want to until a maximum grade of 4 points (which is the maximum grade you will be obtaining in the continuous assessment). In the weekly program, you can find the grade of each assignment.

Assessment method Min - Max Score
Participation in forums, classes, etc. 0% - 40%
Task, practice cases and activities 0% - 40%
Self-evaluation test 0% - 40%
On-site final exam 60% - 60%

María Gloria Gallego Jimenez

Formación académica: El curso de doctorado "Les humanitats d'avui" y la tesis doctoral obteniendo la máxima calificación. El Máster de Educación Inclusiva realizado en el 2016 cuya participación en diferentes congresos de la Universidad de Vic ha sido positivo. Seminario realizado en la Universidad de Pamplona a profesores de Educación y Psicología sobre la relación familia-escuela aplicándolo en la tutoría.

Experiencia: Profesora y tutora en BUP, posteriormente la ESO durante 15 años. Desempeñó cargos de formación docente al profesorado y padres. Impartió clases de inglés y castellano en el colegio. Lleva cinco años en la Universidad Internacional de la Rioja impartiendo en el Grado de Educación en Primaria e Infantil, imparte asignaturas de Educación tanto en inglés como en castellano en dichos grados. Pertenece el grupo de la Cátedra Joaquim Molins Figueras Child Care and Family Policies Chair.

Líneas de investigación: Pertenece el grupo de la Cátedra Joaquim Molins Figueras Child Care and Family Policies Chair.

Studying online means you can organize your study as you wish, as long as you meet the due dates of the different assignments (activities, tasks and tests). In order to help you, we propose the following steps:

  1. From our online platform you will have access to each of the subjects you are enrolled. Apart from this, the virtual classroom of Lo que necesitas saber antes de empezar (All you need to know before starting). In this section, you have available all the documents on how to use the different tools included in the virtual classroom, how a subject is organized and you will also have the possibility to organize your study plan with the tutor.
  2. Do not forget to check the weekly program. You will see which part of the content of the course you have to work on every week. You will see which part of the content of the course you have to work on every week.
  3. After knowing your work for the week, go to Temas in your virtual classroom. There, you will have access to the study material (theory and practice) from the unit you need to study throughout the week.
  4. Start by reading the Key ideas of each unit, there you will find the specific study material and it will help you understand the most important points of the unit. Afterwards, check out the sections Specially Recommended and More Information where you will find more resources in order to deepen on the topic of the unit.
  5. Devote some time to the practical cases and tasks in the subject (assignments and test). Remember that in your weekly program you find all the information related to the schedule for each assignment and the maximum grade you can obtain in each of them.
  6. We strongly recommend you to participate in the Events of the course (online classes, forums...). To know the precise schedule of the events, you need to check the communications tools in the virtual platform. Your teacher and tutor will inform you on the updates of the course.

In the virtual classroom of Lo que necesitas saber antes de empezar (All you need to know before starting) you will always find available information on the structure of the units and information on their sections

Remember that in Lo que necesitas saber antes de empezar (All you need to know before starting) you can check how the different tools of the virtual classroom work: email, forum, online classes, sending the tasks, etc.

Please, take into account the following tips…

  • Whatever you study plan is, go often to the virtual classroom so that you are always up to date about the course and you are in contact with your teacher and your tutor.
  • Remember you are not alone: send an email to your tutor if you have any doubt. If you attend the online classes, you can also ask your teacher about the contents of the unit. Also, you can always write your doubts and questions about the contents in the Forum of each subject (Ask the teacher).
  • Be active and participate! Whenever it is possible, attend the online classes and take part in the forums. The exchange of information, opinions, ideas and resources enrich us and the course.
  • And, remember, you are studying online: your effort and perseverance are the key element to obtain good results. Don’t leave everything to the last minute!!!