Discussion: Introduction

Issues related to multiculturalism and diversity bring up a vast variety of emotional responses. In order for each of you to maximize your learning experience, let’s take a few minutes to consider what we can do in the class to provide a space where you feel safe yet are able to examine uncomfortable topics related to culture and diversity. After watching the introductory video, please respond to questions in the Discussion Board.

Directions for Discussion:

Introductory Video: This Multicultural Counseling course will challenge you to dive into your identity and explore your values and beliefs. In order to be able to do this in our online classroom, we need to discuss the importance of boundaries. You are asked to step outside of your comfort zone and enter the growth and learning zone. At the same time, it’s important to stay within your boundaries of safety to avoid the unsafe, stressful red zone. Ultimately, actively seeking the growth and learning zone will challenge you to expand your worldviews and increase your self-awareness.

Additionally, in this class, it is important for you to demonstrate the School of Counseling’s Key Professional Dispositions. The following dispositions are especially important in this course and should be included in each module Discussion Board:

• Relationships: Student professionally interacts with others and effectively navigates interpersonal differences.
• Impartiality: Student displays contextual and cultural competency by valuing the fundamental rights, dignity, and worth of all people. This includes respect for age, culture, disability, ethnicity, race, religion/spirituality, gender, sexual orientation, marital/partnership status, language preference, socioeconomic status, veteran status, immigration status, or any basis proscribed by law or as defined by potential clients’ experience.
• Awareness: Student manifests alertness of how personal beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviors affect others and uses sound judgment to assess situations properly.

By Day 3

Please take a few minutes to introduce yourself. This can be done via written Discussion Board post or video post. (Note: You will be required in other weeks to provide video posts but this week is optional). This introduction replaces the Class Café for this week. Please be sure to include the following:

• Your name and pronouns
• Where you reside
• Educational and professional background
• A unique and/or fun fact about yourself
• Your hopes for this class

Next, respond to the following questions:

• What does culture mean to you?
• What are your experiences with culture?

By Day 6

Read/watch a selection of your peer’s written/video posts.

Respond to at least two peers using the following criteria:

• Share an insight from what you learned about your peer’s background and/or a unique and fun fact.
• Describe a similarity and a difference between your and your peer’s understanding of culture.

Click on the Reply button below to reveal the textbox for entering your message. Then click on the Submit button to post your message.

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(from the professor)