What is Culturally Responsive Teaching?
“Culturally responsive teaching is defined as using the cultural characteristics, experiences, and perspectives of ethnically diverse students as conduits for teaching them more effectively. It is based on the assumption that when academic knowledge and skills are situated within the lived experiences and frames of reference of students, they are more personally meaningful, have higher interest appeal, and are learned more easily and thoroughly” (Gay, 2002).
Cultural Diversity: Dr. Geneva Gay
“Using the cultural knowledge, prior experiences, frames of reference and performance styles of ethnically diverse students to make learning encounters more relevant to and effective for them” Gay (2010).
Culturally responsive teaching encompasses customizing instruction and curriculum to meet the unique learning needs of culturally diverse students within a classroom setting. This approach ensures that students not only feel recognized and respected but also actively engaged in their learning. It involves the integration of a wide range of perspectives and experiences, acknowledging and celebrating the differences among students. By intentionally promoting cultural awareness and cultivating a sense of trust, this teaching method enables students to deepen their learning and fosters critical thinking skills. Ultimately, the aim is to empower students, bridge cultural divides, and improve learning outcomes by embracing and honoring the rich cultural tapestry present in higher education institutions.
Cultural Competency and Cultural Humility
What is cultural competency?
Cultural competence has been widely discussed across various fields, including the library and information science (LIS). As our communities become more diverse, libraries must equip their staff with skills to effectively engage with multicultural populations.
Several studies have focused on the relevance of cultural competency skills and training that will be applicable to a host of different organizational and operational services such as library instruction, collections, library services, etc. Overall (2009) provided a comprehensive definition as:
“the ability to recognise the significance of culture in one’s own life and in the lives of others; to come to know and respect diverse cultural backgrounds and characteristics through interaction with individuals from diverse linguistic, cultural and socio-economic groups; and to fully integrate the culture of diverse groups into service work and institutions in order to enhance the lives of those being serviced by the library profession and those engaged in service” (2009, p. 190).
The ACRL Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity Framework outlines stages that individuals and organizations can progress through in developing cultural competencies and advancing racial equity thus enhancing their proficiency (American Library Association (ALA), Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), Association of Research Libraries (ARL), and Public Library Association (PLA), 2022). This continuum highlights the evolution of awareness, knowledge, and skills necessary for fostering a culturally competent and equitable environment, emphasizing that this journey is ongoing.
The framework emphasizes cultural humility as central to this process, stressing continuous learning and awareness of personal cultural biases and institutional power dynamics. While cultural competence can be enhanced through training and workshops, the framework encourages cultural fluency—a sustained commitment to ongoing growth, deeper understanding, reflection, learning, and adaptation. This approach aims to cultivate inclusive and respectful environments for all (American Library Association (ALA), Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), Association of Research Libraries (ARL), and Public Library Association (PLA), 2022).
What is Cultural Competency?
What does Cultural Competency mean to you?
What is Cultural Humility?
Hurley et al. (2019) state that cultural humility “involves the ability to maintain an interpersonal stance that is other oriented in relation to aspects of cultural identity that are most important to the other person, the ability to recognize the context in which interactions occur, and a commitment to redress power imbalances and other structural issues to benefit all parties.” In essence, cultural humility involves actively participating in an ongoing journey of self-reflection and self-critique. However, this process is incomplete without the essential step of learning and unlearning from and about others. By examining and challenging preconceived assumptions, remaining cognizant of historical racial contexts, and acknowledging one’s implicit and explicit biases, individuals can embark on the path to achieving cultural humility.
What is Cultural Humility?
The difference between cultural competency and cultural humility.