Diversity Training Considerations, New Study Highlights Gaps in Digital Literacy

Oct 1, 2020, 4:52 PM

(From the National Law Review) A recent memo from the Trump administration targeting diversity and inclusion training in the federal workforce has reignited debate around diversity training in school and university settings and whether to require such training for faculty and staff members. The order essentially bans racial and sex sensitivity trainings for employees of federal contractors, students and recipients of certain grant funds, if the trainings address systemic racism and sexism, implicit bias and other common topics. Schools that endorse such concepts in their curricula are also at risk of losing related federal grant funds. Though the order will almost certainly be subject to legal challenges, employers may wish to review their diversity training to consider:

Including broad topics such as training foundations
Ensuring that the training reflects and aligns with the institution’s core values
Communicating expectations at the outset and being clear about the training topics that will be covered
Defining the terminology that will be used in training-related communications to ensure all have a common understanding
Retaining trainers who are culturally competent and understand how to facilitate difficult conversations on topics that are uncomfortable for many employees from diverse backgrounds

More from the National Law Review

(From EdSurge) When schools abruptly moved online this past spring, parents and kids largely turned to teachers to provide the tech support to get to classes and course materials remotely. Meanwhile, those teachers often felt they lacked adequate tech training. That’s a major takeaway from a survey of more than 700 teachers in 40 states conducted this spring, just after schools first shifted to remote instruction due to the pandemic. The study, done by researchers at Bridgeport State University, also addressed structural problems keeping their students from succeeding, including access to technology and adequate Wi-Fi. Researchers say the data suggests that K-12 schools need to offer more, and different kinds of technology training.