Peer Review

Breaking Prejudice

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Reviewed:: Dec 13, 2018 by Psychology

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

Social psychologist Mary Kite (Professor of Social Psychology at Ball State University) and 21 students have joined forces to create AHAA--the Awareness Harmony Acceptance Advocates. The AAHA mission follows.

We are dedicated to breaking the habit of prejudice and discrimination. We are working together to overcome these social issues by spreading awareness of the problem, establishing harmony between groups, and promoting acceptance of differences.

AHAA's Breaking the Prejudice Habit Website documents the AAHA journey and presents a wealth of information that college instructors can use to explore, confront, and discuss wide-ranging contemporary social issues and challenges. Awareness harmony acceptance advocates explain that some of our behaviors, including prejudice and discrimination, are habits and as such can be changed.

The collection includes information on prejudice including how to speak up, how to be an agent for change, along with many teaching resources useful for anyone regardless of their field of study.

Type of Material:

Collection

Recommended Uses:

The Breaking Prejudice website contains many resources (e.g., videos, songs, podcasts) that can be used to foster individual reflection and rich classroom discussion. The website also incorporates example paper assignments, presentation assignments, and group activities. These assignments and activities are recommended for use in "diversity and/or prejudice/discrimination classes."

Technical Requirements:

The site is accessible via all web browsers. No additional technology is required.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

Learning Goals:

Increase awareness and understanding of the impact of prejudice and discrimination.
Promote social justice.
Recognize, face, and change discrimination and prejudice.

Target Student Population:

This material is relevant for a wide range of college and non-college audiences. Both undergraduate and graduate classes that explore social justice issues will find the material relevant and thought-provoking. Classes such as General Psychology and Social Psychology can benefit from the posted materials.

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

No prerequisites are needed. All needed materials are available on the site including definitions of key terms. All viewers will derive benefit from the material.

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

The overarching theme of social justice is one that connects with university missions nationwide--i.e., it addresses a mission that is relevant to us all. The presented material addresses a full complement of contemporary social challenges, stereotypes, and prejudices. Grounded in research, the variety and quality of the material provides multiple avenues to approach the topics of prejudice and discrimination. Interviews with "different people and groups concerned with civil rights and progressive social change" present informed, beneficial perspectives for discussion and debate. The wide variety of resources--e.g., videos, podcasts, interviews, songs--will engender student engagement and interest

Concerns:

None.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

The site's comprehensive presentation of prejudices and stereotypes provides college instructors with many different class discussion oppportunities. The collection provides multiple methods for advancing student learning- videos, written assignments, group activities, podcasts, video clips, and links to many other resources. The suggested assignments include detailed instructions, grading rubrics, example assignments and example group activities. Resources provided are ready-made teaching materials for instructors who are teaching courses that focus on prejudice and stereotypes in contemporary society. The site goes beyond definitions and frameworks to include firsthand voices and stories of those who have experienced prejudice.

Concerns:

None.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

The Breaking Prejudice website is professional in its appearance, and all of the links and multimedia function appropriately. Material is organized, logically-constructed, clear, and easy to access/navigate. Navigation menu links provide background information about AHAA, take visitors to multimedia and interviews, and present teaching-related materials.

Concerns:

While some videos provide closed captioning, others do not.

Other Issues and Comments:

A wonderful, rich resource for faculty and students across the disciplines. For additional information, contact:

Mary E. Kite, PhD
Department of Psychological Science
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306
mkite at bsu.edu

Ph: 765-285-8197

Creative Commons: