Teaching Religion Online to Black College Students

     The general practice of online teaching is still relatively new, but popular, and approaches for teaching target populations such as black students are very scarce (Arroyo, 2010).  Research has barely begun to define appropriate approaches for teaching Caucasian students online, let alone black students. 

     Higher education theory suggests that learning styles frequently vary between races and cultures.  According to Arroyo, a learning styles approach that takes into account racial and cultural ways of knowing is critical in the education of black students.  Black learners tend to prefer high contact, heavy verbal and non-verbal dialogue, deep community, and a sense of social purpose.  The online environment is more conducive to students who prefer autonomy, isolation, competition, standardization, and depersonalization. 

     Arroyo (2010) suggests that instructors keep the structure of the course free of elements that could present technological challenges in order to ensure all students have equal access.  For example, instructors must keep in mind that some students may access online courses through a dial-up connection or a hand-held device.  An abundance of audio or video can become cumbersome.  Arroyo (2010) also recommends a structure that require substantial instructor presence to meet the learning style of black students.  He also commented on the importance of the environment being warm and inviting so students feel they can openly share their ideas.  He accomplishes this by opening up discussion boards and wikis.  Research indicates that standardized assessments are unfavorable to black learners and Arroyo (2010) therefore believes that they have no place in an online course with black students.  Arroyo also commented that this sort of teaching is more labor intensive than traditional face-to-face teaching for both the instructor and the students. 

     The author believes that there is a danger in the illusion of the colorless classroom.  The nature of the online environment does not allow participants to “see” each other’s cultural and racial differences.  He cautions the reader to remember that on the other side of each computer is a living person of one race or another. 

Arroyo, A. T. (2010).  It's not a colorless classroom: Teaching religion online to black college students using transformative, postmodern pedagogy. Teaching Theology & Religion, 13(1), 35-50.