Embracing Diversity through Open Doors: Using Social Competency Processes to Build Effective Teaching and Learning Communities

Abstract

In the 21st Century, working with diversity is a daily issue in educational settings. Educators need processes in place that allow their learning communities to positively harness diversity to promote learning. This paper describes the use of social competency tied to pedagogical practices that enhance the ethos and atmosphere conducive to effective teaching and learning; which in turn, builds effective strategies for educators to deal with the diverse learning communities that they teach. It is an appropriate process for use by all sectors, from pre-school to the tertiary sector, for all students and in all learning communities.