Inclusive practice
The University of Queensland is a socially diverse environment with staff and students from many backgrounds. Each member of this environment brings to the University unique experiences and knowledge that enrich our community.
The UQ Guide to Using Inclusive Language (PDF, 1.8MB) provides best-practice advice on using inclusive language in work and education at UQ. All staff should implement the principles of inclusive language in all aspects of the work and study environment at UQ.
Below you'll find a collection of videos providing insights from UQ practitioners on the topic of inclusive practices.
Enhancing student engagement
The challenge for any teacher is for their teaching to be accessible to the student. This access could be impeded by ineffective delivery practices, the difficulty of the content being taught, or ineffective management of the class group.
Listen to some of the strategies adopted by our inclusive practitioners for engaging their students:
Class management
A diverse group of students offers unique challenges for getting your message across.
- Video: A tutorial technique (Dr Madan Gupta)
- Video: Lecture techniques (Dr Madan Gupta)
- Video: Using students' names (Dr Madan Gupta)
- Video: Ensuring participation of NESB students (Associate Professor Kathryn Steadman)
Delivery practices
It is easy to overlook the possibility that your students may not have the same basis for comprehension as you.
- Video: Group work as an aid to student isolation (Dr Madan Gupta)
- Video: Culture and the challenge of finding a voice (Dr David Hughes)
- Video: Challenging world views (Dr David Hughes)
- Video: Giving students time to translate and assimilate information (Dr Helen Johnson)
- Video: Producing the 'global graduate' (Dr Helen Johnson)
- Video: Critical thinking and application of learning to real life (Dr Helen Johnson)
Design practices
Accessibility and relevance of content can be a factor in how well students learn.
- Video: Reflecting on our limited perspectives (Dr Helen Johnson)
- Video: Applicability of learning to a cultural context (Dr David Rowland)
- Video: The benefits of multi-disciplinary teaching practices (Dr Helen Johnson)
- Video: Universal design in small group work (Alison Stevens)
- Video: Transition to university (Dr David Hughes)
Supporting students
Students new to an Australian culture will experience challenges that domestic staff and students may find difficult to anticipate.
- Video: Embarrassment and 'loss of face' (Dr Helen Johnson)
- Video: The inclusive role of administrative staff (Dr Helen Johnson)
- Video: Problematic Dependency (Associate Professor Kathryn Steadman)
- Video: Working with Student Services (Alison Stevens and Dr David Rowland)
Technology
Young people who are now entering universities have never known life without the internet. It's essential to their learning, work and leisure. Often, this experience is very different from that of university administrators and faculty.
- Video: Lectopia (Associate Professor Kathryn Steadman)
- Video: Clickers (Dr David Rowland)
- Video: Tablet PCs (Dr Madan Gupta)
Diversity of language and background
A student’s learning may be disadvantaged as a consequence of English being their second language. Challenges may also arise for students who are situationally disadvantaged by being distanced from the mainstream through location or generation.
- Video: The challenges of distance education (Dr Madan Gupta)
- Video: Repetition to help with the understanding of culturally specific languages (Dr David Rowland)
- Video: Use of colloquial expressions with international students (Dr David Rowland and Dr Madan Gupta)
- Video: Valuing your students (Dr Helen Johnson)
Special projects at UQ
At UQ there are many inclusive practitioners who initiate action on inequities, and work to solve problems which non-Australian students struggle with.
School of Education
In this project, Dr Kerryn McCluskey supports final year Education students bridge cultural divides in their placement schools.
- Video: Socio-cultural challenges for final year Education students (Dr Kerryn McCluskey)
School of Pharmacy
Associate Professor Kathryn Steadman's project supports students from a non-Australian cultural background to meet the requirements of working in an Australian pharmacy.
- Video: The challenges for domestic NESB students in Pharmacy (Associate Professor Kathryn Steadman)
- Video: Embarrassing topics (Associate Professor Kathryn Steadman)
- Video: Respectful silences (Associate Professor Kathryn Steadman)
Working with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) students and staff
UQ is fortunate to have a community of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) students and staff. This environment offers unique teaching and learning opportunities which enable students to become game-changing graduates who make outstanding contributions and address complex issues with a global perspective.
The Cultural Competence Program course within Blackboard provides details of how to ensure classroom teaching addresses the needs of all students by considering CALD and English as an Additional Language (EAL).
To understand what bias is, where it comes from and how to develop strategies to overcome it, please review the Blackboard course Managing Unconscious Bias.
Inclusive assessment
Assessment is the critical element in a student's successful completion of a course at UQ. Some students struggle with this, due to language difficulties, or learning or other physical disabilities.
Awareness and a readiness to help can make all the difference to the success or failure of these students.
- Video: Holistically addressing the needs of students from other cultures (Dr Helen Johnson)
- Video: How multiple-choice-question quizzes can provide formative assessment (Dr Madan Gupta)
- Video: Ensuring students understand terminology and assessment criteria (Dr David Rowland)
- Video: Supporting students with learning difficulties through 'universally designed' assessment (Alison Stevens)
- Video: The importance of broadening assessment modes for a course (Alison Stevens)
- Video: Use of assessment as an incentive for engagement (Associate Professor Kathryn Steadman)
Inclusive philosophies
Diversity within a university should be seen as a microcosm of the global world of practice.
- Video: Madan's three P's for teaching (Dr Madan Gupta)
- Video: Practical application of the philosophy (Dr Helen Johnson)
- Video: Using the diverse backgrounds and knowledge which students bring to the classroom (Dr Helen Johnson)
Professionalising learning
Entering professional life is a challenge for anyone, but for students who are unfamiliar with English or Australian culture, there can be additional barriers.
- Video: The importance of cultural sensitivity (Dr Helen Johnson)
- Video: Socio-cultural challenges for final year Education students (Dr Kerryn McCluskey)
- Video: The challenges for domestic NESB students in Pharmacy (Associate Professor Kathryn Steadman)