Applying a socio-cultural understanding to building inclusive communities within educational settings

This colloquium will present a socio-cultural, multicultural and transcultural approach to understanding the role culture plays in developing shared agendas for building an inclusive and cooperative learning community within educational settings. Current research from each perspective will be presented and a broader understanding of the role culturally constructed environments play in human development, cooperative learning, prosocial decision making, problem solving and conflict resolution will be discussed. The colloquium will encourage participant engagement to challenge each perspective and build a broader discussion of the role mediated learning experiences play in overcoming or perpetuating bigotry, violence and injustice, and how culturally competent educators may act as a protective factor in building democratic communities to promote social justice and human rights within the educational setting.