Open education has the power to help facilitate more culturally responsive teaching and learning, which benefits all students. Yet, culturally responsive teaching has been caught in the crosshairs of recent culture wars over critical race theory in classrooms. As a result, many in the open education field have asked: How can we effectively communicate about and promote open education’s role in supporting cultural responsiveness, inclusion, and equity—especially in this polarized landscape?
This question helped shape new messaging research conducted by strategic communications firm GMMB and research firm Zebra Strategies, with the support of the Hewlett Foundation. In this session, we will review findings from our messaging research with K-12 and higher education leaders and educators. We will share guidance and recommendations on how to communicate about open education and cultural responsiveness, inclusion, and equity, and we will provide sample messages that attendees can adapt for their own communications efforts.
After participating in this session, attendees will be able to:
- Incorporate research-based communications principles into their own communications about open education and equity
- Adapt and use effective messaging on the intersections among open education, cultural responsive education, and equity
