Embracing diversity in online master’s classrooms
A key aspect of online education is that students are able to study remotely, from virtually anywhere in the world. As a result, online classrooms now feature cohorts and peer groups made up of interesting, and varied, people from all walks of life.
In particular, many online master’s programmes are characterised by the diversity of their cohorts and wider learning communities – often due to geographically disparate, seasoned professionals with a wealth of life experience turning to further study after starting out on their career paths.
Why is it important to embrace diversity in online learning communities?
Data from McKinsey & Company indicates that between 2012 and 2019, the number of hybrid and distance-only students at traditional universities increased by 36% – with the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating that growth by an additional 92%. Research also shows that online learning is making higher education more accessible for traditionally marginalised communities, including African American and Latinx learners, and low-income and first-generation college students.
This huge influx of new students, and from diverse backgrounds, opting for online higher education degrees is great news for prospective students considering remote postgraduate study. It means greater exposure to an authentic, multicultural education, and online learning environments that are more likely to be a hotbed of diversity. Diversity encompasses – but is not limited to – culture, age, religion, background, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation (LGBTQ+), socioeconomic status, abilities and disabilities, and language.
Diverse, international and multicultural online master’s learning environments help learners to:
- gain a global perspective. Business is globalised, and your own outlook and perspective should be too. To succeed in global marketplaces, you’ll need to be adept at communicating and collaborating with people from all around the world, whose reference points, communication styles and ways of conducting business may differ from your own.
- broaden and enrich professional networks. Many students enrolled in online master’s courses are in full-time employment, providing access to an invaluable business network which can have a meaningful impact on your future career. Plus, you’ll be tapping into a vast, international network, expanding your horizons and potentially opening you up to opportunities and partnerships you may not otherwise have been exposed to.
- access a higher quality student experience. Interacting with students of different backgrounds – whose diverse perspectives, experiences and worldviews naturally feed into teaching and learning exercises – will enhance your own understanding of our world. From collaborative group projects to idea-sharing exercises, diversity of input will lead to better outcomes, reduce the likelihood of ‘echo chamber’ thinking, and contribute to a more well-rounded syllabus.
- promote cultural awareness. Possessing an understanding and awareness of cultural differences and cultural backgrounds is transformative, both in the workplace and day-to-day life. You’ll gain an appreciation of others’ strengths, understand varied perspectives, grow in empathy, and be more equipped to reflect on your own experiences, identity and beliefs.
Additionally, diverse online teaching settings help to create the ideal conditions for culturally responsive teaching.
What is culturally responsive teaching (CRT)?
Culturally responsive teaching (CRT) involves drawing on learners’ characteristics, customs, perspectives and experiences to enrich pedagogy, classroom instruction and learning outcomes. It aims to foster a greater sense of belonging among – and between – students in learning environments, resulting in increased engagement, wellbeing, sense of community, and academic success.
Professor Geneva Gay, a multicultural education expert, first coined the term culturally responsive teaching, stating that: “when academic knowledge and skills are situated within the lived experiences and frames of reference for students, they are more personally meaningful, have higher interest appeal, and are learned more easily and thoroughly.”
What strategies help foster diverse and inclusive online learning environments?
More and more, teacher education programmes – and educational systems at large – recognise and prioritise diverse learning experiences and learning processes.
Fortunately, remote learning models have a number of inherent features that support diversity and inclusion initiatives. For instance, students are empowered to personalise both pace and method of learning to align with their individual needs, strengths and learning styles:
- Asynchronous learning gives learners the flexibility and freedom to plan their studies around existing work, family, or other commitments. For many, traditional classroom environments and learning schedules are simply unfeasible, making online courses an attractive option.
- Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) tools are available to support students with varied learning and accessibility needs, from video content to screen magnifiers to closed captions to high-contrast colour options. Inside Higher Ed report that ‘universities in Europe, Asia and Latin America are increasingly adopting English as the language of instruction for both online and on-campus courses’; as such, consideration must be given to students who may face language barriers, which accessibility tools can support with.
- Technological capabilities help reduce barriers to education for certain demographics, such as those navigating financial, developmental, or other constraints. Additionally, online learning platforms are growing in sophistication, providing new ways for students to engage with course content, interact with peers, and receive personalised from tutors and facilitators. Examples include virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).
As well as addressing student access to online learning more generally, other teaching strategies that promote diversity and inclusion focus on:
- embedding CRT principles and the diversity of student perceptions, backgrounds and experiences in course and syllabus content
- supporting educators to lead by example, modelling behaviours, ideas and perceptions that embrace diversity
- creating learning environments based on psychological safety
- fostering connections between diverse students, celebrating their individual identities, and establishing a sense of community
- addressing and analysing different forms of bias.
All serve to design and facilitate inclusive classrooms that have a positive impact on students’ academic, cultural and social integration.
Ready to immerse yourself in online MBA study as part of a diverse learning community?
Gain the skills to excel in business, management and leadership – and reap the benefits of a virtual classroom that celebrates cultural diversity – with St Mary’s University’s range of online MBA programmes. With 100%-online, highly flexible study to suit you, our master’s degrees can help you to excel in your career ambitions:
· MBA
· MBA with Healthcare Management
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