We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.

Reimagining Education for Equity

What role does education play in achieving sustainable development goals? How can education drive transformative changes leading to environmentally and socially just societies? How can key stakeholders be involved in creating inclusive, equitable, and empowering learning environments that prepare individuals and communities for a rapidly changing world?

This course addresses these questions by first examining and problematising the role education has played in sustaining social inequalities; and then deliberating on how education can be transformed to create empowered teachers and students towards attaining an equitable, just, and sustainable future.

The course derives from the results of a four-year, four-country research programme on ‘Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures’ or TESF. It is led by Professor Poonam Batra, a TESF co-investigator and one of India’s leading academics with four decades of interdisciplinary experience across elementary, teacher and higher education practice and policy in India.

The course is designed to make TESF research and examples of transformational education accessible to practising teachers, student-teachers, the wider teacher education and policy community, and other stakeholders with an interest in education.

Enroll now

Or subscribe to Coursera Plus

And get unlimited access to Coursera

Two deals to help you save

Save money when you learn. Here are two deals and offers that may be relevant to this course.

All coupon codes, vouchers, and discounts are applied automatically unless otherwise noted.

Valid until December 2

Annual Subscription

Invest in your career growth and save. Start your annual subscription to Coursera Plus and access 10,000+ programs.

Valid until March 12, 2027

Save 40% Off 3 Months

Access thousands of top-rated learning programs with a Coursera Plus monthly subscription and take 40% off 3 months for a limited time.

What's inside

Syllabus

Module 5: Gender, School, and Society: Perspective in Curricula, Pedagogy, and Educational Arrangements

Welcome to the Course

In this introductory module, you will learn a few important details about the course, including the objectives of this course, who the instructors and the course team are, as well as important information to navigate the course. You will also find a link to a Pre-Course Survey – please do fill this as it will help us get to know you better and prepare the course accordingly.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

May help learners develop skills, knowledge, and/or tools that are useful for personal growth and development

May assist in developing a strong foundation for beginners

May aid in strengthening an existing foudnation for intermediate learners

May offer comprehensive study of science, math, and technology

May introduce learners to unique perspectives are ideas that may add color to other topics and subjects

May take a creative approach to an otherwise established topic, field, or subject

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.

Save

Reviews summary

Equity-focused education for professionals

According to learners, this course offers a profoundly insightful and transformative experience for those interested in education, equity, and social justice. Students highlight the expert instruction by Professor Poonam Batra, whose insights into decolonizing curriculum and understanding caste inequalities are particularly impactful. While the course provides highly relevant content and academic rigor, some learners noted it is more theoretical than practical, focusing on frameworks over direct classroom strategies. It is broadly considered a must for anyone in policy or teacher education seeking a deeper understanding of equitable education.

Provides rigorous, well-researched, and dense material.

"The readings were dense but worth it. I'm a seasoned educator, and this course still challenged my perspectives deeply."

"It's academic, but accessible. The content is incredibly important and well-researched."

"The academic rigor is high, making it suitable for those ready to engage deeply with policy and social justice issues."

Forums offer diverse viewpoints and enrich learning.

"Good discussions in the forum."

"The discussions were very enriching, providing diverse viewpoints."

"I valued the active discussions that helped deepen my understanding of complex issues."

Led by a knowledgeable and passionate instructor.

"Professor Batra's insights into decolonizing curriculum and understanding caste inequalities were eye-opening."

"Prof. Batra is phenomenal. Her passion shines through."

"The way it connected historical injustices to contemporary educational challenges was masterful."

Highly relevant for educators, policymakers, and academics.

"Highly recommend for anyone in policy or teacher education."

"Excellent and highly relevant content, especially for current times."

"This course is a must for anyone wanting to truly understand equity in education beyond surface level."

Offers deep insights and challenges existing perspectives.

"Absolutely transformative! Professor Batra's insights into decolonizing curriculum and understanding caste inequalities were eye-opening."

"A very thoughtful course that pushed me to reconsider my teaching practices. The module on gender was particularly impactful."

"This course provided a critical lens on education that is truly needed today. I learned a lot."

Focuses on frameworks, less on direct classroom application.

"Sometimes I wished for more concrete examples of how to implement these ideas in a typical classroom, but it's more about frameworks."

"I was looking for more practical strategies for my classroom, and this was more theoretical. Good for academics, maybe less for new teachers."

"The theoretical foundation is solid, but I'm still figuring out how to translate all of it into daily practice. Still, very valuable."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Reimagining Education for Equity with these activities:

Read an introduction to social justice issues

Show steps

Establish a foundation in social justice issues to facilitate engagement with the course content.

Browse courses on Social Justice

Show steps

Find a book or article that provides an overview of social justice issues.
Read the selected material carefully, taking notes on key concepts and theories.
Reflect on the implications of social justice for education and society.

Explore online resources on sustainable development education

Show steps

Enhance understanding of the principles and practices of sustainable development education.

Browse courses on Sustainable Development

Show steps

Search for online courses, workshops, or webinars on sustainable development education.
Review the content and identify the most relevant resources for your needs.
Participate in the selected resources, actively engaging with the materials and discussions.

Volunteer at a local organization that promotes social justice

Show steps

Gain firsthand experience with the challenges and opportunities of working towards social justice.

Browse courses on Social Justice

Show steps

Identify a local organization that aligns with your interests and values.
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Attend a volunteer training or orientation.
Volunteer regularly and engage with the organization's mission and activities.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Read and summarize a book on education policy

Show steps

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and challenges of education policy.

View Elusive Equity: Education Reform in Post... on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of the book.
Read the book carefully, taking notes and highlighting key concepts.
Write a summary of the book's main arguments and findings.

Analyze case studies of inclusive education

Show steps

Develop critical thinking skills and practical strategies for creating inclusive learning environments.

Browse courses on Inclusive Education

Show steps

Identify case studies that showcase diverse perspectives on inclusive education.
Read and analyze the case studies, paying attention to the challenges and successes described.
Develop recommendations for implementing inclusive practices in your own teaching context.

Attend a workshop on culturally responsive teaching

Show steps

Develop strategies and techniques for creating a classroom environment that is inclusive and responsive to the needs of diverse learners.

Browse courses on Culturally Responsive Teaching

Show steps

Identify and register for a workshop on culturally responsive teaching.
Attend the workshop and actively participate in the activities and discussions.
Implement the strategies and techniques learned in your own teaching context.

Facilitate a discussion group on a topic related to education and social justice

Show steps

Engage in critical dialogue and exchange ideas with peers on the role of education in promoting social justice.

Browse courses on Equity in Education

Show steps

Identify a group of peers who share your interests in education and social justice.
Choose a topic for discussion that is relevant to the course content.
Prepare some questions or discussion points to guide the conversation.
Facilitate the discussion, ensuring that all participants have the opportunity to share their perspectives.
Summarize the key points and insights that emerged from the discussion.

Design a lesson plan that incorporates principles of transformative education

Show steps

Apply transformative education principles to your own teaching practice, fostering critical thinking and empowerment among learners.

Show steps

Review the principles and practices of transformative education.
Identify a specific topic or skill that you want to teach using transformative approaches.
Develop a lesson plan that incorporates interactive activities, discussions, and reflective exercises.
Implement the lesson plan in your classroom and gather feedback from your students.
Reflect on the effectiveness of your lesson plan and make adjustments as needed.

Career center

Learners who complete Reimagining Education for Equity will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Reimagining Education for Equity.

Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain

Save

Is essential for understanding the neurological basis of culturally responsive teaching. It provides a framework for optimizing student engagement and rigor by considering how culture influences learning. This is particularly useful for educators seeking practical strategies to create equitable classrooms.

Reimagining Education for Equity

Two deals to help you save

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Equity-focused education for professionals

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses

Coursera Buyer Protection & Guarantee

7-Day Free Trial & Free Audit

14-Day Refund Guarantee

Verified Academic & Industry Partner