Ways to Respect Diversity

Course participants bring a wide range of characteristics, backgrounds, and experiences to the classroom. It is the instructor’s responsibility to respect participants’ differences and create an inclusive environment that meets the communication needs of all members of the class. Introductions, icebreakers, and team-building activities can help instructors and participants to create positive relationships by finding common areas of interest or experience, personally and/or professionally.

There are many factors that influence how a person communicates and interacts with others. However, there are some fixed factors which we have no control over. These factors are as follows:

  • Physical qualities and abilities
  • Race
  • Ethnicity
  • Gender
  • Sexual orientation
  • Age

It is critical to be aware of these factors because they affect both the instructor and the course participants and they impact interpersonal relations in the class.