Diversity, Equity and Belonging: Taking a Risk at Learning

This chapter takes the concept of ordinary moments, frequently used in Early Childhood Education, and applies it in a Higher Education classroom. Drawing on student and teacher reflections, comments and artistic engagement over four years, this chapter explores the ways that specific classroom activities are designed and communicated in order to create an inclusive environment, and build a sense of belonging. Nine vignettes of ordinary moments in Higher Education are used to explore the ways in which diversity, equity and belonging play a role in learning at university. These vignettes include themes of sexuality, gender and identity, neurodiversity, religion, racism, collaborative learning, leadership, and self-actualisation. Through ordinary moments the authors argue that teachers and students in Higher Education classrooms are offered opportunities for developing rich understandings of their places in the world, their interdependent existence as learners, and the relational nature of learning.