The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical/creative thinking and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
This artifact that I used this standard in was in the EDU 381 class titled the Book Resource Guide.
LINK to the Artifact
What is this artifact?
In the book resource guide, we found a multitude of books that fit under the windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors criteria, which means that they are books which show inclusion through representations of multiple populations of people. In this, we added books to a class website with descriptions of the type of book it is, how it shows inclusion, and more. We also created a video pitch for a book that all classrooms should have because it shows inclusion perfectly.
How does this artifact demonstrate standard number 5?
This artifact did a wonderful job in addressing this standard. In the standard it mentions including “differing perspectives.” The window, mirrors, and glass doors metaphor addresses this directly. Having texts in the classroom with the metaphor’s criteria ensures that multiple perspectives are addressed because it embodies a multicultural approach and an inclusive approach, hence bringing multiple people to the table, each with a different perspective. Likewise, “authentic local and global issues” were also tackled within this artifact. All the books that I chose related to one of the ‘isms’ (racism, sexism, ableism, classism etc). All of these are social issues that occur worldwide. By bringing conversations to the classroom through books like the ones we chose, it allows students to modify their views on stereotypes of these populations which causes them to both think critically and engage in discussions over global issues. Because of all of these reasons, the Virtual Literacy Classroom artifact fully fulfills the fifth standard from the CCTS- Maine Standards.
