Developing DRIVE: Creating a Tool to Evaluate and Address Bias in the Learning Landscape

Background: In 2018, in response to learner feedback regarding the need for unbiased education. An inter-professional Working Group was developed to address the bias in the curriculum. The working group represented faculty, staff, and students from across the Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Biological Science, Graduate Medical Education, Diversity and Inclusion Office, the library, Faculty Affairs, and more. This need for an unbiased education led to an evaluation of the curriculum, the development of a new tool to give educators a way to evaluate their lessons, and opened an opportunity for learners to give feedback to strengthen and broaden their education.

Description: The demographics of our learners and educators do not reflect the changing demographics of communities they serve or will serve through their work in clinical and research settings.

The appraisal tool was designed to foster the creation of bias-free curricula and to enhance the accuracy, representation, and inclusion of diverse populations in our educational environment and activities.

The development began with identifying best practices, defining key terms, and setting expectations around what the tool should and should not be. The typical learner-educator relationship creates power imbalances; space for learners to provide feedback and insight without repercussions was created.

The intent was never to shame, blame, or accuse educators, but rather to offer them a lens through which to view their curriculum, encourage self-reflective interrogation of their curricula, and create routes for feedback that could help learners feel safe.

Conclusion: This tool is empowering educators with self-assessment guidance and resources to address bias in their educational materials, and to support their ongoing professional development in the domains of diversity, equity and inclusion. The creation and maintenance of the assessment tool and supplemental materials and workshops is an ongoing iterative process continually evolving through faculty and learner feedback. The tool is one piece of a larger move towards culture change at the institution.