Cultural Mismatches in the Multicultural Science Classroom

Abstract

The student body in university science classrooms is increasingly diverse demographically (NCES, 1995; 2015); and this change brings with it an increased chance of mismatch between professor’s expectations and students’ behaviors. Being aware of how cultural expectations influence teaching and learning is the first step in understanding and overcoming these mismatches in order to help all students succeed. Drawing from published research as well as interview and survey data, we highlight ways for professors to create an atmosphere of belonging (Walton & Cohen, 2011) and an appreciation of people from all cultures (Museus et al., 2017).