How To Foster Holiday Inclusivity In Your Online Classroom

"Did you know that highly specific holiday references in an eLearning course can unintentionally exclude learners who don't observe the same holiday? If holidays are presented under a single cultural lens, it could signal that the course is built for some people more than others. So, how do you avoid that in an online classroom with a global reach and a diverse audience?"

"Historically, seasonal curriculum design choices often focused on the most prominent holiday in the region, making the content unintentionally exclusionary for learners who didn't observe said holiday. With a globally growing appetite for personalization, this practice is becoming less frequent, but it's still important to avoid repeating past mistakes. Everything rests on the design choices, which should cater to your specific audience."

"Inclusive festive practices also aid in building empathy and stronger, more meaningful communication and collaboration. Of course, to avoid missteps, the exploration of various holidays must take place in connection with their culture-specific concepts of worldview, society, and community. This is so learners can examine how symbolism works, what values holidays carry, and how they are connected to identity and history, and ultimately avoid reproducing superficial or tokenistic representations."

Highly specific holiday references in eLearning can unintentionally exclude learners who do not observe those holidays, especially when portrayed through a single cultural lens. Inclusive holiday integration requires thoughtful design that considers audience diversity and global reach. Inclusive practices acknowledge learners' identities and cultural practices, improving outcomes, engagement, empathy, communication, and collaboration. Effective inclusion connects holiday exploration to culture-specific worldviews, society, and community so learners can analyze symbolism, values, identity, and history, and avoid superficial or tokenistic representations. When scope or time is limited, use broader themes or optional, learner-centered approaches instead of singling out specific holidays.

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