Developing implicit bias awareness in the communication classroom: From Project Implicit to Jane Elliott's Brown Eye Blue Eye

Abstract

Communication courses enhance learning through engaging diverse perspectives. However, students’ unawareness of diverse perspectives can inhibit communication effectiveness and classroom engagement. Communication teachers encounter challenges and opportunities when these viewpoints impact students’ assignment quality, class discussion contributions, and speech development. The present instructional activity uses critical reflection about implicit bias to address these issues.

Course(s): Introduction to Public Speaking/Advanced Public Speaking and communication courses in the areas of persuasion, interpersonal, intercultural, interracial, intergroup, conflict, and diversity.

Objectives: Through activities and lecture, students will use Project Implicit and Jane Elliott's Brown Eye Blue Eye video to examine implications of implicit bias, perception, and dual perspective for the persuasive speech as well as other communication assignments.

Notes

1 Students may need two or three days to complete the Project Implicit assignment.

2 IATs include: native, skin-tone, weapons, disability, sexuality, religion, race, weight, presidents, age, gender-career, gender-science, Arab-Muslim, Asian.

3 These questions are tailored for persuasive speeches, but they can be modified for other communication course assignments.

4 Concepts are found in many interpersonal communication textbooks (e.g. Wood, 2015).

5 Biased text examples: https://college.cengage.com/english/raimes/digitalkeys/keyshtml/choose_7.htm

6 Steps for establishing ground rules: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/publinks/generalguidelines#rules https://teachingcenter.wustl.edu/resources/inclusive-teaching-learning/establishing-ground-rules/

1 Students may need two or three days to complete the Project Implicit assignment.

2 IATs include: age, Arab-Muslim, Asian, disability, gender-career, gender-science, Native, presidents, race, religion, sexuality, skin-tone, weapons, weight.

3 These questions are tailored for persuasive speeches, but they can be modified for other communication course assignments.

4 Concepts are found in many interpersonal communication textbooks (e.g. Wood, 2015).

5 Biased text examples: https://college.cengage.com/english/raimes/digitalkeys/keyshtml/choose_7.htm

6 Steps for establishing ground rules: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/publinks/generalguidelines#rules https://teachingcenter.wustl.edu/resources/inclusive-teaching-learning/establishing-ground-rules/