Course Overview
This course provides employers and employees with engaging opportunities to explore, examine and assess how they identify themselves to the world, how biases and misconceptions interfere with understanding others around them, and what systems limit diversity, inclusion, and equity. Throughout the course participants will respond to the content and reflect on how it has influenced and impacted their perspectives, their personal interactions, and their professional relationships, while also focusing on our shared humanity.
Course Delivery
Content is delivered via online self-paced modules, videos, articles, inquiry-based questions and assessments, as well as a one-hour remote live diversity orientation.
Learning Objectives
- Participants will learn foundational terms such as diversity, equity, inclusion, racism, prejudice, discrimination, and bias.
- Participants will consider where they are receiving messages about others and how those messages impact their interactions with others.
- Participants will explore how intersections of identity traditionally have more or less power. They will examine where power corrupts justice and limits inclusion and how positive relations build community.
- Participants will expand their understanding of diversity, traveling throughout the world to interact digitally with other cultures.
- Participants will be able to embrace the humanity of others and choose new avenues to invite dialogue.
- Based on course content, participants will be asked to share their reflections, takeaways, and action items going forward.
Schedule and Completion Time
- 1 hour remote course orientation
- 3 hours of self-paced online modules
- Total: 4 instructional hours
- Access to the course for 90 days
Technology Features
- Moodle learning management system
- Interactive Rise360 course modules
- Scenario-based learning experience
- Mobile-friendly
- ADA compliant
- Closed-captioned videos
- Zoom orientation can be accessed remotely
Want to learn more about taking this course for professional development or about offering it for your staff? Contact us at cps@fitchburgstate.edu.
Certificate of Completion
Upon successful completion of the modules, participants will receive a certificate of completion from Fitchburg State University’s Center for Professional Studies.
Instructor
Angele Goss has more than 20 years of professional experience connecting low-income and first generation students (middle, high school and college) to resources and experiences that improve their access to and through post-secondary education. Her experience spans a diverse range of school districts in North Central Massachusetts. She has directed two (2) Federal Education grants with combined annual budgets of $500k+, hired and supervised staff and developed residential academic summer programming.
She currently teaches Adult Basic Education to predominately second language learners, ranging in age from 18 to 65 and teaches courses on cultural competency at Fitchburg State University. Additionally, she is a Cultural Engagement presenter who facilitates difficult conversations around race, equity, and cultural self-reflection. Her work demands an intentional respect for the varied cultures of each person she meets. Angele’s success in her work is due, in large part, to meeting students, school staff and workshop participants where they are and constructing pathways that identify common ground that supports personal and community success.
Angele holds a master’s degree in education from Fitchburg State University.
MassEdCO is so grateful to Fitchburg State University and its School of Graduate, Online, and Continuing Education for assisting us with providing an impactful diversity, equity and inclusion workshop to our staff during our recent retreat. Our workshop facilitator, Angele Goss, brought extensive TRIO experience to the table, which made the presentation and ensuing discussion that much more impactful for our staff.