2019 Annual Conference

CPAE CoConference : Professional Development Workshop

CPAE CoConference Only: Professional Development Workshop (90 minutes)

Facilitating learning environments is a core competency of adult learning practitioners. Often, microaggressions present as disruptive, even slightly amusing, interactions that add no value to the learning experience. Unchecked, these behaviors can cause micro-inequities and emotional unease. This session will help faciltators identify microaggressions and provide techniques to address them.

Target audience consists of higher education faculty and staff members responsible for creating and facilitating inclusive and civil learning environments.

Participants will be able to identify microaggressions from learners. Participants will be able to recognize ways of addressing the behavior in a constructive manner. Learning to recognize microaggressions, participants will be able to proactively establish expectations in the learning environment that would minimize microaggressions and encourage inclusion.

The session will begin with identifying microaggressions and micro-inequities. participants will explore and understand how negative micro-behaviors affect others. This exploration includes outcomes of ignoring microaggressions, and unintended consequences. Participants will gain a full understanding of how their reaction to microaggressions and micro-inequities impact the cognitive, behavioral and emotional state of their learning environment. 

Following these understandings, participants will be able to recognize techniques appropriate for addressing microaggressions and micro-inequity in their learning spaces. The techniques that will be discussed are micro-affirmations, positive micro-behaviors and classroom management techniques. Learners will also find that continuing education on their part regarding the acknowledgement, understanding and overcoming of their own biases are a key component in maintaining an inclusive, civil learning space.

This engaging, interactive session will begin with defining and identifying microaggressions. We’ll also cover the negative effects these behaviors cause in the learning environment. Next, the presenters will share constructive ways to address microaggressions. Lastly, participants will be asked to share their experiences and practical tips for creating an inclusive and civil learning environment free of microaggressions.