Presenter:
Sophonie Wright
As learning tools continue to emerge and evolve, educators may find that one concept in their classrooms still survives: culture. This presentation reimagines higher education by placing classroom culture, rather than new technologies, at the center of learning design. Established most powerfully in the opening weeks of a new semester, culture shapes the meaningful engagement that takes place throughout the term. Digital tools should reinforce this foundation without overshadowing its significance.
Grounded in applied learning science, Situated Learning Theory, and the fields of composition and digital media, this session connects theory to practice and introduces a framework for intentionally cultivating classroom culture in digital environments. The strategies emphasize creating onboarding practices that will anchor student engagement across modalities and disciplines for the semester. These include adapting peer reviews to reports and projects, structuring debates to explore ethical inquiries, and integrating reflective assignments that call for critical thinking even when digital tools or artificial intelligence are present. This approach is further informed by multilingual and multicultural perspectives, highlighting how practices such as storytelling, dialogue, and collaborative learning support diverse learners.
The session demonstrates how culture-centered pedagogy can align with communal traditions and emerging technology while maintaining academic integrity and human connection. Participants will gain adaptable strategies for building classroom culture at the onset of a course, sustaining it throughout, and ensuring that education remains personalized for humanity, even as digital platforms evolve.
