2.X: Equitable Course Design Framework: Transparency

The expectation of transparency in organizations and institutions is well-known; city councils hold open meetings, non-profits are required to disclose finances, and restaurants display their sanitation ratings. What does transparency mean in teaching, and how do you do it? How can students effectively comprehend and put into action the critical components of your course’s assignments, activities, and interactions?

Transparency in course assignments has been shown to improve outcomes for students (Winklemes et al., 2016). In this workshop, we’ll define transparency in teaching and you’ll learn practical and context-specific approaches to help students (and yourself) attend to the “whats,” “whys,” and “hows” of learning. But transparency is not only a practice; it is also a mindset or attitude that sustains an ongoing commitment to educational equity. This workshop is for anyone who is interested in learning more about transparency, whether your interest lies in concrete strategies, or in unpacking foundational philosophies and values.