Multicultural Curriculum Development in Online Classes: Practices From Washington State Community Colleges

Abstract

The community college system is based on an open-door mission and serves to provide access to students of diverse backgrounds. Online learning is one of the fastest growing segments of community college offerings. If the community college system embraces its open-door mission, it must also embrace new ways of providing multicultural experiences within online classes. Yet, little research has been conducted in looking at connections between online learning and multicultural education within community colleges. This study asked if multiculturalism plays a significant role in the traditional face-to-face college classroom—what role, if any, does it play in an online classroom? Literature on multicultural education, distance learning, educational theory, and social psychology were explored within the context of community colleges. Community college faculty who reported using multicultural approaches within their online classes were interviewed and observed. The results indicated that these online instructors generally had a collection of instructional methods that correlated to Banks’ (2004) Multicultural Dimensions. This article shares practices used by the faculty that can affect change in online students’ experiences with multiculturalism.