Implicit Bias A more in-depth look

Module 3 Implicit Bias

How Does Implicit Bias Impact Our Work Mindfulness - Students and Families should always come first. In order to put mindfulness into practice, we must become aware of any boundaries that prevent working with all students and families. We all carry the burden of Implicit Bias, but being mindful and consciously work towards interrupting disproportionality. “You can train your mind to catch yourself,” said Costello. “It’s like breaking a habit, but the first thing you have to do is become aware of the habit.” (Teaching Tolerance)

The Color Test

Read the Font Color

Read the Font Color

Read the Font ColorRead the Font Color

When does making a quick decision happen in your work? When is it harder/easier to make decisions? How can we decrease our snap judgments? Using the color test as a guide to facilitate discussions on Implicit Bias

Awareness Test

The Dancing Bear Intent versus Impact How can we create conditions in our workplace to check our implicit bias? When looking for a problem, you will ultimately find it, sometimes at the expense of missing other things

Implicit Bias Checklist Things to Reflect On Preference for Members of In-Groups Begins at an Early Age These Early Beliefs, Attitudes, or Stereotypes Continue to Exist at an Unconscious Level Emotional State Can Also Influence the Tendency to Implicit Bias Human Brains Encode Information About Groups of People Into Memories Humans Strongly Prefer Persons From the Same Social Categories Categorization of and Preference for People Based on Group Identity Implicit Bias Increases Under Certain Circumstances Implicit Bias Affects Even Nonverbal Behavior Humans Tend to Perceive “Out-Group” Members as All the Same Human Brains More Readily Process Information That Confirms Our Beliefs, Attitudes, or Stereotypes Active Ways to Combat Implicit Bias Check Emotional State (anger, disgust, fear - even sometimes happiness) Be Decisive - plan interactions Be Aware of Your Triggers (think time) Stay Motivated to be Fair and Accurate Build Structures for Accountability (e.g. data review) Take Time to be Inclusive Mindful When You are Overwhelmed Be Conscious of Difference Confront Cultural Stereotypes Seek out Images and Social Environments That Challenge Stereotypes

The Doorknob Phenomena How to engage “Hard to Reach” Parents The parent-teacher conference is over; the father rises to leave and heads for the door. He touches the doorknob, then turns back abruptly with one final thought that he delivers passionately. “And another thing,” he blurts out, referring to a topic that was covered earlier in the meeting. “That same thing happened to me in fifth grade, and I swear it is not going to happen to my child!” His tone is threatening; his teeth bared. His anguished outburst surprises even him. His passion explodes in defense of his child in self-defense of the child he was. How does a parent's past experience affect how they relate to school staff? How does our own past experience either as a student, parent or our own bias about a particular parent, culture, race, etc., affect how we talk with the parent or what we expect from him/her? How can we build trust with parents prior to a parent having to come into the school to deal with a difficult situation, or so he/she feels personally invited?

“At Wyman Elementary school in St “At Wyman Elementary school in St. Louis a couple of years ago, I was attending a breakfast for parents. Standing just outside the door was an African American parent, hesitating to come in. I went over and greeted her, introducing myself. She said she was ‘Tyrone’s mom’ and had never been inside the school before. ‘Why did you come this time?’ I asked. ‘Because Tyrone’s teacher called and invited me,’ she said. When I asked if she had ever gotten other invitations to come to the school, she said, ‘yes, I got flyers and other stuff. But I didn’t think they meant ME. I didn’t think they wanted ME to come.’”