New friendships were made as students learned to look beyond surface differences and see the character and essence of the people around them. Even more remarkable is the significance students placed on diversity as a key factor in teaching and learning. Throughout the video students articulate the role diversity has played in creating a stimulating intellectual environment. They note that being able to interact with people who are different from them sharpened their critical thinking skills, opened new insights for them, and made their classes more challenging and stimulating. Carlton P. Jordan and Dana Sherman, two teachers who taught the untracked world literature course, share their students enthusiasm and note that in an untracked classroom labels used to identify students who are capable and those who are not as capable are meaningless.
Students move in and out of leadership roles.
As teachers, Jordan and Sherman are energized by the enriched classroom discourse and increased student interest and motivation. Viewers see them using multiple instructional approaches including group work, critical pedagogy, large group discussions, and small group instruction. Most importantly, viewers see two teachers who like, respect, and appreciate their students. Jordan and Sherman are present in their classrooms in a way that says serious work is taking place. They are prepared to give their best to their students, and in return they expect the best from them.