Global Diversity Education
SBS has a long standing interest in diversity, including programs and initiative in African-American, Latino/Latina, Islamic and Asian studies as well as a growing group of research centers with international recognition including the Center for Research on Families; The Center for Neuroendocrine Studies; Science, Technology and Society; Social and Demographic Research Institute; among others. Each can benefit in exciting synergistic ways from an effort to bridge the gap between diversity studies and centers of research excellence. A stronger connection among them will help prepare students for life in an increasingly diverse world and further position SBS to lead the way in policy relevant to diversity research.
One promising collaboration, for example, involves Richard Tessler,
sociology, and Ron Hambleton, in the School of Education. Throughout the developing world, rural youth experience barriers that reduce their educational and occupational opportunities, limit their participation in society, and lead them to feel pessimistic about their future. While there are no magic bullets to help them overcome these barriers, educating them about information computer technology should be one part of a comprehensive social change strategy. The
idea has broad ranging policy implications, but has not been put to
empirical test.
With funding, working with the Center for Research on Families and Science, Technology & Society, Tessler and Hambleton aim to provide one such test by building modern computer labs in two middle schools in the Chinese countryside. Based on this intervention and through comparisons with students who are not exposed to it, they expect to evaluate whether feelings of self-efficacy derived from the increased skill set will increase motivation to stay in school, reduce pessimism about the future, and encourage setting higher personal goals. There are many more examples.
