Two students in DEI workshop

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Career and Technical Education senior students are participating in “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace” workshops this school year.

Herkimer BOCES Supervisor of Equity, Diversity and Curriculum Initiatives Patricia Wilson facilitates the workshops.

“We live in a very diverse country, and employers are looking for employees who have the communication skills to work productively within diverse work settings and be members of diverse teams,” Wilson said.

The DEI workshops are taking place for 30 minutes once every other month. The first topic covered in the four-part series was “Cognitive Biases That Can Mess up Your Decisions.”

“Students had some fun looking at cartoon representations of many cognitive biases that affect all of us,” Wilson said. “For example, the bandwagon effect, the halo effect, the negativity bias and confirmation bias were a few of the biases discussed.”

Students picked one cartoon of interest, shared that bias with the class and then related how this bias might come up in work or life. Students also self-assessed at the end of the workshop on how well they felt they understood the bias that they chose and if they used the appropriate communication skills when sharing with their workshop partner and then with the whole workshop group, Wilson said. “It has been a lot of fun for this facilitator,” Wilson said.



Two CTE students during DEI workshop

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Career and Technical Education students have been participating in “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace” workshops this school year with Herkimer BOCES Supervisor of Equity, Diversity and Curriculum Initiatives Patricia Wilson. From left: Herkimer BOCES Health Science Careers students Taylor Parmon (of Herkimer Central School District) and Alana Grogan (of Central Valley Central School District).



Two CTE students during DEI workshop

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Career and Technical Education students have been participating in “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace” workshops this school year with Herkimer BOCES Supervisor of Equity, Diversity and Curriculum Initiatives Patricia Wilson. From left: Herkimer BOCES Outdoor Power Equipment students Alfonso Davis and Matthew Perkins (both of Mount Markham Central School District).



Two CTE students during DEI workshop

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Career and Technical Education students have been participating in “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace” workshops this school year with Herkimer BOCES Supervisor of Equity, Diversity and Curriculum Initiatives Patricia Wilson. From left: Herkimer BOCES Health Science Careers students Madison Chapman (of Little Falls City School District) and Lindsey Pierson (of West Canada Valley Central School District).



Two CTE students during DEI workshop

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Career and Technical Education students have been participating in “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace” workshops this school year with Herkimer BOCES Supervisor of Equity, Diversity and Curriculum Initiatives Patricia Wilson. From left: Herkimer BOCES Health Science Careers students Matthew Vannort and Grace Gregory (both of Frankfort-Schuyler Central School District).



CTE students during DEI workshop

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Career and Technical Education students have been participating in “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace” workshops this school year with Herkimer BOCES Supervisor of Equity, Diversity and Curriculum Initiatives Patricia Wilson. Pictured: Herkimer BOCES Heavy Equipment student Jayden Kamp (of Dolgeville Central School District).



Two CTE students during DEI workshop

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Career and Technical Education students have been participating in “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace” workshops this school year with Herkimer BOCES Supervisor of Equity, Diversity and Curriculum Initiatives Patricia Wilson. From left: Herkimer BOCES Outdoor Power Equipment students Brandon Sorce and Austin Huckabone (both of Poland Central School District).



CTE students during DEI workshop

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Career and Technical Education students have been participating in “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace” workshops this school year with Herkimer BOCES Supervisor of Equity, Diversity and Curriculum Initiatives Patricia Wilson. From left: Herkimer BOCES Heavy Equipment students Nate Shaver (of Central Valley Central School District) and Noah Trago (of Mount Markham Central School District).



A CTE student during DEI workshop

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Career and Technical Education students have been participating in “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace” workshops this school year with Herkimer BOCES Supervisor of Equity, Diversity and Curriculum Initiatives Patricia Wilson. Pictured: Herkimer BOCES Outdoor Power Equipment student Mark Hulbert (of Poland Central School District).



Two CTE students during DEI workshop

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Career and Technical Education students have been participating in “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace” workshops this school year with Herkimer BOCES Supervisor of Equity, Diversity and Curriculum Initiatives Patricia Wilson. From left: Herkimer BOCES Health Science Careers students Jenna Smart (of Little Falls City School District) and Dylan Dayton (of West Canada Valley Central School District).


A CTE student during DEI workshop

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Career and Technical Education students have been participating in “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace” workshops this school year with Herkimer BOCES Supervisor of Equity, Diversity and Curriculum Initiatives Patricia Wilson. Herkimer BOCES Outdoor Power Equipment student Brandon Sorce (of Poland Central School District).