Author Description

Grounded in interdisciplinary research from the social sciences including education, sociology, biology, history, etc., this text successfully teaches both education and non-education majors about diversity in America. Understanding Human Differences is the best single text for introducing students to the study of diversity in Twenty-First Century America and providing a clear conceptual framework for teaching about diversity. Implemented successfully in more than 100 general education and teacher education programs across the United States, Koppelman’s text is often kept by students as a permanent reference after using it — at both the Undergraduate and Graduate levels. After a brief introduction, chapter headers provide questions to guide students followed by responses based on interdisciplinary research and author expertise. Through this inquiry format, the author encourages students to discuss and debate topics, thereby promoting a deeper understanding of the issues addressed within each chapter. The author looks at all of the "isms" of U.S. society (sexism, classism, racism, etc.) through three overlapping lenses: the individual, institutions, and culture. Its strong historical perspective and balance of theory and application not only prepares pre-service teachers to be more accepting and successful working with diverse students in their classrooms, but also prepares students in other fields to be more sensitive to the issues affecting the diverse individuals they will meet and work with throughout their lives.