Abstract
The purposeful use of experiential learning to enhance the inclusivity of production-based courses, by incorporating 2SLGBTQ+, race, and Indigenous storytelling, can help promote inclusivity and confront systemic issues of marginalization and exclusion of minoritised groups in contexts of higher education (Oropeza, Varghese, and Kanno 2010; Turner, González, and Wood 2008). Over a five-year period teaching production-based courses at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson), I identified an issue that arose from student groups choosing their own topics and themes. When groups were tasked with choosing a topic, they predominantly chose professional or amateur male mainstream sports to cover. The underrepresentation in media of groups was being reinforced in the classroom setting and unintentionally supporting the marginalization of these groups (Carter-Francique, Richardson 2016). As a result, I changed a production-based assignment to embed topics and themes that featured underrepresented groups in sport media, including 2SLGBTQ+, race, and Indigeneity in sport. This redesign addressed and impacted students’ awareness toward a more diverse and community-oriented representation in their projects. This ECI-based experiential learning approach enhanced student learning outcomes in multiple ways. It promoted cultural competency and understanding. When students had the opportunity to work collaboratively with peers from diverse communities, a deeper appreciation for and understanding of underrepresentation of marginalized groups in current sport media coverage was realized. Students developed critical thinking skills related to the impact of their decisions on different stakeholders and the consideration of the needs and perspectives of individuals from these diverse communities.
Presenters
Dan BerlinAssistant Professor, RTA Sport Media, Toronto Metropolitan University, Ontario, Canada
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Education and Learning Worlds of Differences
KEYWORDS
Experiential Learning, ECI, 2SLGBTQ+, Indigenous, Race, Storytelling, Production, Inclusivity, Community
