Skip to content
Sign Up

Course on Embracing Diversity

Understanding Our Social Identities



Foster empathy and social skills in your child through an understanding of diversity and identity. 



Sign Up for Bloomster Enroll in Course
Gratitude (6)
Sign Up Enroll in Course

Course Overview

We live in an increasingly diverse world! Does your learner have the social-emotional skills to engage in it? There are so many topics related to diversity; where does one start to learn? This introductory course is designed to begin to help your child better understand diversity and themselves as they gain the interpersonal skills and confidence to build diverse relationships, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and self-care. We'll start with the concept of intersectionality. That's a big word! Through an interactive story, your child will unpack what this term means and how it plays out in real life. They will also gain valuable skills to practice social justice interventions and better engage in a diverse world.

 

Module

1

Trouble at Green Hill Middle

This module will introduce learners to the concepts of oppression and privilege. Learners will have the opportunity to engage with examples of these topics through interactive story lines. At the end of the module, learners will understand the effects of social oppression and privilege on us all through an examination of their own social identities.

Module

2

Witnessing a Microaggression

Continuing from module 1, learners will take a deeper dive into one manifestation of oppression - microaggressions. They will learn how to be an active helper to someone who is experiencing a microaggression through learning about a specific form of microaggression -tokenization. Specifically, learners will engage in critical thinking to identify, empathize, and intervene when they see someone experience a microaggression.

Module

3

Experiencing a Microaggression 

In module 3, learners will learn what to do if they experience a microaggression. Microaggressions, if not dealt with effectively, can be deleterious for one's mental wellbeing through increasing stress and other psychosocial difficulties. However, learning to process difficult experiences can lead to increased resilience. In this module, learners will learn about how our main character copes with her own experience of microaggressions and will examine their own experiences with microaggressions. They will learn specific tools for coping with microaggressions, how to seek support from trusted others, and how to listen to their own needs in order to heal from these experiences.

Module

4

Apologizing for a Microaggression

In this module, learners will deepen their understanding and practicing of social emotional skills through learning to apologize when they microaggress. One of the most challenging aspects of microaggressions is that oftentimes we are both the victims and the perpetrators of these experiences. Making a sincere apology, though often seemingly simple, can actually be quite difficult. This module will teach learners skills (e.g. holding oneself accountable while practicing self compassion and increasing cultural humility) to decrease their own defensiveness and work towards reconciliation.

Meet Course Creator, Sam Colbert

Dr. Sam Colbert is a Licensed Psychologist. He has his PhD in Counseling Psychology and his Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Ball State University. He graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with his undergraduate degree from SUNY Geneseo. Sam works as a practicing Psychologist providing therapy to a range of people with a range of concerns and is very passionate about research and education. He has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and presented hundreds of workshops for both professionals and the general public, alike. Additionally, he has taught multiple undergraduate courses. Sam is very excited to bring his clinical, teaching, and research experience to his work on Bloomster! Sam believes that people are capable of great growth and learning. Developing advanced social and emotional skills not only will prepare students to excel in both their personal, academic, and social pursuits, it will help them become more socially responsible adults. The courses he has co-authored with screenwriter, Anthony Crutcher, and comic artist, Joseph Shepherd are meant to be educational in nature. Although Sam hopes that the lessons and tools will be helpful for students and their parents alike, these resources should not be considered therapeutic help. If you are experiencing distress, please contact a helping professional. He thanks you for embarking on this learning journey with him!

Screenshot (131)