Course fee | $150.00 |
Instructor: Dr. Michele A. L. Villagran
Librarians and information professionals cannot hide from bias: a preference for (or aversion to) a person or group of people. Implicit biases are hidden assumptions and stereotypes that exist at an unconscious level. These biases impact how we react and interact with others, specifically those of difference or perceived as "other." They are often overlooked and not discussed as they are not obvious behaviors. A microaggression is a comment or action that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group. Microaggressions occur as a result of an implicit bias.
This course offers the opportunity to learn more about implicit bias and microaggressions with reflection on the individual's own biases and awareness of microaggressions that occur in their workplace. At the end of this two-week course, learners will:
- Understand how implicit bias is part of everyday life
- Critically examine their own biases
- Examine the relationship between bias and microaggressions and the damage it may cause
- Understand the types of microaggressions
- Explore effective practices for demonstrating positive responses within the workplace
Awareness of our implicit biases and microaggressions, and how they can impact our peers and workplace is an important step to encouraging an inclusive work environment. This course will help learners apply strategies to minimize and overcome implicit bias and microaggressions in their library workplace.
Course Description: This two-week online course will utilize an assessment, discussions, readings, recorded lectures, resources and two online meeting to help you develop a better understanding of implicit bias and microaggressions. You will be able to assess your own biases and strategies to combat them. You will learn strategies to address, minimize, and overcome microaggressions. The instructor will provide resources and best practices for dealing with biases and microaggressions. While this can be a sensitive topic, you will be encouraged to ask questions, share experiences and participate in discussions with others. You will be able to immediately apply concepts learned to your own library and communities.
Online Meetings
Note: Please make every effort to ensure that you are able to attend these two meetings before enrolling in the course. If this is not possible, archived recordings will be made available.
Course Outline:
Pre-course Assignment: Project Implicit, a non-profit organization, is a collaboration between researchers who are interested in implicit social cognition (otherwise known as implicit bias). The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is an online research-based tool to develop an individual's awareness of implicit preferences and stereotypes. This test may reveal that you have an implicit attitude that you didn't even know you had.
Here are instructions for completing the test:
All registered learners are required to complete one test. Upon completing at least one test from the IAT, reflect on how the results made you feel and if there were any surprises based on your results. We will discuss this during week 1.
Time Required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend 2 ½ hours per week, for a total of five course hours. Each week's module contains an online meeting, readings, and various options for assignments and discussions. You can choose the options most relevant to your work and interests. Although you can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night, it is recommended that you complete each week's work within that week to stay in sync with other learners.
Who Should Take This Course: This is intended for a broad level and categories of information professionals from staff to middle management to directors. Anyone that interacts with diverse communities including administration, managers, and human resource professionals who want to examine the topics of implicit bias and microaggressions within the workplace further.
Online Learning Details and System Requirements may be found at: infopeople.org/training/online_learning_details.