Beyond reflection: Using discourse analysis to understand your classroom culture

Understanding individual classroom culture is essential for constructing effective learning and teaching contexts. Largely underutilized in STEM classrooms to date, discourse analysis can serve as a tool to uncover, understand, and shape unique classroom culture. Used as a reflective tool, discourse analysis can enhance pedagogical understanding of quality and quantity of student participation and acquisition of knowledge. This workshop offers participants an opportunity to engage in a hands-on learning experience about ways to create learning opportunities for all students. The participants will learn the process of discourse analysis and will create a step-by-step plan to use this research perspective to comprehend what actually happens in their own classrooms so as to enhance interactions creating an effective learning and teaching context.