Supporting First-Gen Students through Inclusive Course Design
Moderated by Kevin Hogan, eCampus News, Editor-at-Large
For first-generation students, higher education offers a gateway to career advancement, valued social capital, and intergenerational mobility. Yet despite the best efforts of instructors, first-generation students face numerous challenges to successfully completing a degree, evidenced in higher drop-out rates compared to their peers. Understanding those challenges can help inform course design strategies that foster a greater sense of inclusion and belonging that can help all students find academic success.
Key Takeaways
• Learn about key tenets of inclusive design and accessibility and how they relate to the needs of first-generation learners
• Understand instructional strategies designed to address the specific challenges faced by first-generation learners
• Discover tools institutions can adopt to support learner preference and promote inclusive education
Meet Your Speakers
Dr. John Scott Product Manager @Blackboard Ally Speaker Bio
Dr. John Scott Product Manager @Blackboard Ally
Dr. John Scott is a Product Manager for Blackboard Ally. Prior to joining the Blackboard Ally team, John completed his PhD in Learning Sciences and New Media at the University of California Berkeley, where he designed, taught, and researched online learning courses focused on collaborative learning, multimodal literacy, and Universal Design for Learning. He spent 4 years as a literacy and arts teacher in New York City public schools, earning a Master’s Degree in Special Education, and specializing in technology-mediated literacy and learning. He has published and presented at professional research conferences on digital literacies, networked learning, and global education.