Education and the Conflict Perspective: A College Admissions Committee Activity

Abstract

This in-class activity is designed to illustrate the conflict perspective and to further a student’s understanding of how the education system perpetuates economic, gender and social class inequalities. In this activity, students take on the role of a college admissions committee member and assess potential candidates for admission in small groups. As...

Download this resource to see full details. Download this resource to see full details.

Details

Subject Area(s):

Education

Resource Type(s):

Class Activity

Class Level(s):

Any Level

Class Size(s):

Any

Usage Notes

Set-up: Before class, create the update slides and print off the sheet "Fake College Admissions Committee Handout" for each student.

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. Students will engage with the conflict perspective and understand its application to the institution of education.
2. Students will learn about the education system and its intersections with other major areas of sociology: gender, race and social class.
3. Students will understand the social implications of inequality in the education system.

Goal Assessment(s):

1. By working in small groups to select candidates for admission, students will understand the pressures within the educational system that often lead to increased inequality.
2. Through in-class voting and discussion, students will hear and debate other opinions about how applicants’ race, class, and gender affected their admission choices.
3. By examining each applicant’s outcome, students will recognize how their admissions choices furthered inequality within the education system.