In keeping with my previous blogs about the existence of bias in the classroom based on demographic factors… previously I examined race, gender, and age bias (albeit in a very minimal manner) so for this blog, I will talk a bit about bias based on disabilities.
While no one wants to believe s/he treats a disabled person differently, I am sure such a bias exists. Much of the literature I surveyed discussed LD children (children with learning disabilities) but I am considering a more global perspective. An online classroom can protect a student with a physical disfigurement from real or perceived bias from classmates or teacher. The student with hearing or visual impairments can, in an online class, participate with no special treatment.
As David Permutter states in his article Physical Appearance and Student/Teacher Interactions (http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=EJ741293&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=EJ741293) “[s]cientific and cultural research suggests that attractiveness does affect the ways that people perceive and respond to each other…Many faculty members in certain disciplines judge students by how they dress and on their looks.” Clearly, a disfigurement (such as burn marks, bad scars, and the like) would create even a greater disparity in teacher response to such students.
Weidong Li, in his article Study shows how adolescents, parents cope with obesity bias in PE, shows how adolescents and parents cope with obesity bias (http://ehe.osu.edu/news/2008/li-obesity-bias-pe.cfm). Li states that, “…overweight adolescents can be teased unmercifully by peers.”
But what if these students appeared as they wanted to be perceived through the use of avatars? This is the crux of my topic.
A few days ago I joined Second Life and created my own avatar. I found the experience truly enlightening and, in my next blog, I will talk about some of the surprising emotions I had and the things I experienced. I am rapidly becoming a Second Life aficionado!
What is Second Life? “Second Life is a free online virtual world imagined and created by its Residents. From the moment you enter Second Life, you'll discover a fast-growing digital world filled with people, entertainment, experiences and opportunity” (from http://secondlife.com/whatis/ ). One interesting aspect of Second Life is that a person can purchase real estate and use it for his/her own group. Big businesses are doing this and using the space for virtual meetings with people all over the world. The idea that a virtual classroom can be purchased and used for an online class is what has intrigued me about Second Life.
Hi Liz,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your thoughts concerning disability bias. As a teacher, I want my students to know that it doesn't matter what you look like, how you dress, what nationality you are, etc.. I just want you to learn all you can.
I have had students with obvious physical impairments and they were some of the best students I've ever had. They worked harder, especially when some topics didn't sit well. I'm hoping I fostered that type of environment, but truly, I believe it is the fire within them that makes them ride a bus to school everyday and sit (perhaps uncomfortably) for hours to a lecture. It seems nothing gets them down.
However, being teased for a condition unmercifully, such as obesity, or being stared at because of scars from burns, is saddening. I know those that feel uncomfortable with their physical self would love the opportunity to use an avatar and be treated with the same respect as everyone else.
As a teacher, your posts are making me become more acutely aware of my own conduct. I'm watching myself a bit more carefully and analyzing the results if I see something I don't like. I thank you for that.
--Debbie
Liz,
ReplyDeleteWhat is your avatar name in Second Life? Look me up as "Mercutio Click"!
I find my self thinking about the issues you bring up in your post. Avatars in Second Life can mask characteristics that are difficult for us to deal with in the non-virtual world. And we get to present ourselves in any way we choose (my avatar in SL is the robot from Lost in Space).
I think it's good that we become more aware of the things we say (and do) around other people. Our words and actions have consequences, and we should at least be fully aware of our own culpability before we have to accept the consequences, right?
- Hap Aziz