Help us understand implicit bias. Reflect on the results of your participation in the survey. Name a time when you used your own implicit bias to navigate a situation.

I have done this test a few times, including during high school and undergrad. It challenges me every time as I feel when I teach and in my daily interactions, I am doing everything within my power to be able to include everyone and use inclusive language. I try to educate myself continuously so that I am using the best and current practices within the classroom and outside of the classroom. I try to model for both myself and my students.

When completing the Implicit bias testing, it always challenges me, as the buttons change and I try to be fast when completing it. Each time I have done it, including recently, I am amazed that I tend to lean one way or another. Very rarely have I been able to remain neutral.

Many times in the classroom, students say things that they have either heard their parents say or something someone else has said that comes off rude or insensitive toward a group of people (it could be race, sexuality, disability, language, etc.) and it can easily make me want to be reactive “How can you say that?” “That’s rude”. In that situation, you have to not only remain neutral, but calm. Many times, students don’t even know what something means or that it’s rude/insensitive. It typically becomes a good teachable moment to think about how we would feel if someone said something about us. I often times bring in my background and things that have personally happened to me to help students understand and bring in someone they know without pushing/crossing boundaries. Sometimes these moments are whole class and other times a small group/one-on-one. It depends on the situtation.