As the United States becomes more culturally diverse, it is important for educators to reflect on their own identity and learn more about the diverse backgrounds of the students, colleagues, and parents they will work with in the school community.

Note: Your responses to the requirements below may be in a written or presentation format.

Requirements:
A. Define culture and diversity.

B. Identify four aspects of diversity that have influenced your personal identity.

Note: Pictures or images may be used to help you illustrate the four aspects of diversity, but they are not required.

1. Choose two of the four aspects of diversity identified in part B and do the following:
a. Explain how one observable characteristic of culture is used to express each of these aspects of diversity.
b. Explain how one non-observable characteristic of culture is used to express each of these aspects of diversity.

Note: Use the attached “Iceberg Model of Culture” for common characteristics of culture to identify observable and non-observable categories.

C. Describe a personal experience with a person or group of people from a different culture or diversity framework.
1. Explain how a personal or social barrier to diversity was a part of the experience described in part C.
2. Explain the impact that the experience described in part C had on the development of your diversity consciousness.

D. Identify three aspects of culture or diversity within a school community that you want to have an awareness of as an educator.
1. Explain how each of the three aspects of culture or diversity can contribute to the school community from part D.
E. Discuss three reasons why it is important for educators to engage in ongoing diversity education.
F. When you use sources, include all in-text citations and references in APA format.

Note: For definitions of terms commonly used in the rubric, see the Rubric Terms web link included in the Evaluation Procedures section.
Note: When using sources to support ideas and elements in an assessment, the submission MUST include APA formatted in-text citations with a corresponding reference list for any direct quotes or paraphrasing. It is not necessary to list sources that were consulted if they have not been quoted or paraphrased in the text of the assessment.

Note: No more than a combined total of 30% of a submission can be directly quoted or closely paraphrased from outside sources, even if cited correctly. For tips on using APA style, please refer to the APA Handout web link included in the APA Guidelines section.