Developing Multicultural Awareness through Designs Based on Family Cultural Heritage: Application, Impact

The United States has grown increasingly diverse in its social and cultural composition. Higher education institutions in the USA have actively encouraged multicultural infusion both in curriculum development and campus activities. This article discusses a higher education multicultural design project that was based on students’ research and documentation of four generations of personal family history. By understanding aspects of personal heritage, self-awareness of bias and prejudice can be more easily understood thereby offering opportunity for maturity through appreciation and acceptance of others. The impact of the personal history design project on students will be described as well as application of the project in the K–12 environment. Implications for K–12 teachers will also be discussed.