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Decolonizing Social Sciences Curriculum

Introduction

This guide is part of a culmination of work stemming from the participation of the

Decolonizing the Social Sciences and Humanities CITL Faculty Learning Community.

 

The faculty learning community (FLC) is an interdisciplinary project designed to a) foster learning about various ways "decolonization" has been applied to intellectual work, b) support participants' critical examination of their existing teaching, and c) to create new pedagogical materials that reflect their learning and pedagogical reflection. The FLC brings together instructors of various levels as a peer-based support network for collaboration on re-imagining and decolonizing syllabi, assignments, activities, classroom environments, student-teacher interactions, or other pedagogical domains (From the FLC's CANVAS page).

 

The resources and materials presented and linked in this guide are intended as a introduction to the definitions and methodologies of decolonization in the construction of curriculum. 

Defining "Decolonzation" of Curriculum

"Decolonizing the curriculum is a way of questioning and broadening academic practices and pedagogies to include and respect all cultures and belief systems, not just the cultures and belief systems of countries that participated and participate in modern colonialism, or the process of gaining political and economic control of a region after occupying it with settlers . The countries typically considered as colonizers include Western European nations, as well as Russia, Japan (i.e., in Korea) and China (in Tibet and beyond), although these definitions shift depending on the time period under discussion."

"How to Create a Culturally Inclusive Syllabus and Course," the web document where this topic is discussed in detail and from which these suggested books come, is available here.

*(The quote on this page and the source linked document, "How to Create a Culturally Inclusive Syllabus and Course," are the work of Dr. Nicolette Cagle of Duke University and her many faculty and student collaborators within the Nicholas School of the Environment & the Duke Marine Lab).