According to The Teaching Commons, “inclusive pedagogy is a is a method of teaching in which instructors and classmates work together to create a supportive environment that gives each student equal access to learning” (The Teaching Commons, 2020). This method takes a collaborative and co-constructive approach to classroom instruction. I believe inclusive pedagogy shares some similarities to culturally responsive pedagogy as well.
While browsing the resources on The Teaching Commons webpage I came across several strategies for inclusive pedagogy in the classroom. I think it is very important to “set the stage” to create an inclusive classroom environment. As a student, it is quite clear when instructors do not respect or care about the individuals in their classrooms. Because of this experience, when I was teaching I attempted to set expectations upfront. I found it interesting that the resource brought up that inclusive teachers should be prepared to hold a dialogue with students who disagree with the practice. I agree that this is an important practice to uphold inclusive pedagogy because even if a student does not agree with you or the practice there still needs to be mutual respect in the classroom. The aspect of setting the stage is critical for enacting the other strategies within inclusive pedagogy including preparing students for offensive material and having difficult conversations. It is much more difficult to introduce these later strategies if you have not first established trust and respect for an inclusive classroom.
Overall, I think inclusive pedagogy is an important practice in alignment with culturally responsive pedagogy. These pedagogies and related pedagogical practices can help elevate the classroom experience for both teachers and learners.
