Diversifying your curriculum

This workshop will provide you with the tools to assess the geographic diversity of the reading lists you use in your teaching. This stems from the well-documented observation that research from prestigious institutions, many of which are in high-income countries, is more frequently published and cited, and therefore more frequently included in teaching materials.  

Through a series of small group discussions and plenaries, this workshop presents an opportunity for you to learn more about considerations for diversifying curricula, examine your own practices, and share experiences with your colleagues. 

The workshop will begin with an examination of this possible “geographic bias,” what it is, how it can manifest, and whether it should be perceived as a problem in higher education. Next, you will be introduced to an automated reading list analysis tool developed by the Abdus Salam Library, ICT and Imperial students. This will allow you to interrogate and understand the geographic distribution of research you draw upon in your teaching. The workshop will conclude with a plenary discussion about what the findings from the tool have revealed to you, whether this information is helpful, and how practical changes to your reading lists could be made, if appropriate. 

This workshop is part of a larger research project funded through the Presidents Excellence Award for Teaching and Learning Innovation. This session will be facilitated in person. 

Who should attend?

This workshop is primarily intended for those who create, manage and use reading lists as part of their work responsibilities, such as subject/liaison librarians and teaching/academic staff. However, many of the concepts and areas that are covered can also be applied to research more broadly, so we encourage anybody interested in the topic to attend. 

Key areas   

• Understanding geographic bias, what it is and how it manifests 

• Navigating Imperial’s automated reading list analysis tool 

• Critically reviewing and diversifying the sources of reading, evidence, research and methodologies used in your teaching 

• Existing barriers to including marginalised thinking and less privileged knowledge 

Prerequisites

Please note that you will need to request access to view and use Imperial’s reading list analysis tool, hosted on Power BI, if you have not accessed it before. Please make sure to request access before the workshop here. If you wish to explore how to use the tool before the workshop, you will find a 5-minute video tutorial here. We kindly ask that you bring a laptop device to the session, so that you can use the platform to examine your reading list(s). 

Imperial STAR Framework

This workshop would be valuable for those seeking professional recognition through the Imperial STAR Framework. It engages the following dimensions of the Professional Standards Framework (PSF 2023): A2, A4, A5, K2, K3, K5, V1, V2, V4, V5.