A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Teacher diversity awareness in the context of changing demographics
Authors: Emmanuel Acquah, Madhavi Tandon, Sonia Lempinen
Publication year: 2016
Journal: European Educational Research Journal
Volume: 15
Issue: 2
First page : 218
Last page: 235
Number of pages: 18
ISSN: 1474-9041
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1474904115611676
This study examined awareness of and knowledge of how to address
increasing linguistic and cultural diversity among 89 teachers in an ethnically and
racially diverse school located in Southwest Finland. The empirical evidence
suggest that in a school with many years of experience with a diverse student
population the levels of awareness and knowledge among teachers are relatively
low and teachers themselves expressed the need for much more information, in
particular, strategies for meeting the needs of their students. In addition, teachers
showed distinct levels of awareness of diversity which successively predicted their
knowledge of strategies for addressing diversity in the classroom. Implications for
research and teacher education are discussed.