Removing the layers of the optical illusion in our classrooms.

This week we explored the nervous system with my Grade 6 science class and I used optical illusions as a hook to my students. The standard gradient illusion like the one below really blew their minds and they were convinced it had to be a trick! But while looking at this I thought about how this is also representative of our classrooms. If we look at our biases in how and with what we are teaching we may have an opportunity to more fully engage our class.

Image 1 and 2: Gradient Bar Optical illusion with and without gradient background.

Think of our classrooms as this optical illusion with the gradient background being our biases that we or our resources bring to the lessons. If we take time to think about them and apply our knowledge of intersectionality and constructionism we maybe able to level the playing field so to speak.

Thinking about this, I created an infographic to put up in my room to help remind me of what I should be paying attention to when planning a lesson with both constructionism and intersectionality in mind. I want to make sure that i am removing that background so all students feel empowered and engaged.

Intersectionality and Constructionism © 2024 by Elicia Bullock is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

References:

Nathan Lian (2016), "Gradient Bar Illusion" Wolfram Demonstrations Project. demonstrations.wolfram.com/GradientBarIllusion/

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). (2018, June 22). Kimberle Crenshaw: What is Intersectionality? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViDtnfQ9FHc