Online Teaching: Embedding Social, Race, and Gender-Related Equity

The concept of equality is the ability to give an individual or group the same opportunities and resources in order for them to succeed. Equity recognizes the differences in each person's circumstances and provides the resources and opportunities necessary to achieve an equal outcome.

This microcredential will help you understand the differences between educational equity and equality inclusion, and the different ways that online learning can be made more equitable for all learners.

2020 saw increased awareness and activism about inequity across all areas of society. The #BlackLivesMatter movement gained momentum quickly; inequalities that resulted in high death rates due to COVID-19 among people of Black Asian and other Ethnic Minority background; and the continued fight for trans rights around the world and the Me Too' campaign.

It is becoming clear that all countries and sectors have a responsibility to address inequalities through the delivery and design of education and assessment activities.

Experts in learning design will share their knowledge and experience in dealing with inequity. This includes decolonizing the curriculum and making it more inclusive. Through the delivery and design of online education, you will be able to see the importance of ending the cycle of discrimination and disadvantage.

This microcredential can be used by anyone who works in adult education or training in a variety settings, including higher education further education and work learning and development roles in private and public sectors. This microcredential will equip you with the knowledge and skills to create equitable online learning and assessment.

This course will teach you how to identify inequity in education, including race gender gender identity and sexual orientation.

Additionally, you will learn how to audit online teaching activities as well as institutional policies for bias and inequity. You can also develop equity audit strategies to address diversity needs of stakeholders.

The Open University has assembled a team to create this course. It features interviews with educators from diverse contexts around the world who have experience in embedding equity into online learning and assessment.

Learners who were discriminated against and excluded from online learning will also be sharing their stories.