Teacher Expectancy Effects: Minimising Teacher Biases That Affect Student Outcomes

About this module:

A survey of nearly 800 teachers revealed that over two-thirds of teachers believe that a child’s inherited potential affects their success. Unfortunately, this idea that you are born capable of only certain achievements is ingrained in our society, it is however, also based on false assumptions.

In this module we examine the evidence that refutes the view that intelligence is hereditary and demonstrate the importance and impact of our environment and social interaction. We consider how unconscious bias impacts on our own behaviour and potentially the achievement of our students and how we, as classroom practitioners, can change our behaviours and the language we use to ensure every child feels capable of success.

Session One: Biases in the classroom will explore:

• What cognitive biases are and the evidence for their potential influence on student achievement.
• Reflections on your own expectations.
• The source of achievement bias.
• The Nature vs Nurture debate.

Session Two: Eliminating bias will explore:

• Brain maturation and environmental influences - Where student gaps come from.
• Where biases originate.
• How we can adapt our pedagogical practice to reduce the impact of bias and influence student behaviours.

• The role of heritability and environment in shaping learner potential.
• How our own experiences influence the way in which we process information and influences our actions and choices.
• The potential influence of these unconscious judgements on our relationships with students and on their attitudes, behaviour and achievement.
• How we can adapt our behaviour and language as classroom practitioners to help all students to achieve their potential.