"Diversity refers to the representation of our varied identities including but not limited to gender, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, language, religion and faith, age, national origin, and disability status. Equity is about working to provide fairness and justice. And inclusion involves properly representing all groups and enabling them to fully participate. When we bring the three together, we are able to create environments that aren’t just meant to function for everyone, but that allow everyone to thrive in as well."

Anthony Palmiotto and Symphonie Swift for OpenStax

If They Can See It, They Can Be It

Textbooks/education materials should have images of people representing diverse cultural heritage and lived experiences.

Think about a publisher textbook:

Are the contributions to the field that are highlighted in the textbook from a diverse range of scholars in the field? If not, is there a discussion about why certain voices were historically excluded from the field?
Is the textbook accessible? If there is an e-book, do the images have alt text, for example? Can students with disabilities access all materials in the book?
If the textbook is an e-book, are the concepts presented in multiple ways, such as text, infographics, slide decks, or multimedia elements?

Thoughtful adoption of OER leads to course materials that reflect the realities of our students' lives. Giving students choices in how they explore the course concepts empowers them to use their existing preferences, and helps them develop new strengths and avenues for learning.

Sources and More Reading

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