Project 1: Assessing your cultural awareness
Value: 25 points
Due Date:
Assignment:
1. Participate in the classroom activity “The Spaceship Search”
2. Complete the Cultural awareness self-assessment form
3. Type a 300 -600 word paper / essay or thought piece addressing the following questions:
a. Describe the group dynamics with the spaceship search? How did cultural differences
playout in your group leadership, decision making and choices?
b. What did you learn about yourself by doing Spaceship search exercise? Were you surprised
by the choices others made in the spaceship search? Did you make decisions based on your
cultural biases?
c. How did you score on the cultural awareness assessment? What are your low areas in the
assessment? What are your high (or strongest) areas on the assessment?
d. What did you learn about yourself by completing this assessment, are you culturally
competent? Did it make you more aware of areas you can improve in? Do you believe there
are no wrong answers? Why do nurses need to be culturally aware?
4. Submit your essay to turnitin.com by 11:59 PM on the due date
Grading Rubric
Criteria
Length &
grammar
Group
dynamics
0 points
< 300 words
> 10 errors
Not covered
Self-reflect
spaceship
Not covered
Cultural
assessment
Not covered
Cultural
competency
Not covered
2 points
300 + words
9 -10 errors
Minimally covered
– no supporting
evidence
Minimally covered,
no supporting
statements
Score given – no
assessment
Minimally covered,
no supporting
statements
3 points
300 + words
6 – 8 errors
Covered with one
supporting statement
5 points
300 + words
< 2 errors
Completely covered
with multiple examples
Covered with one
supporting statement
Completely covered
with multiple supporting
statements
Score given
Identifies strengths and
weaknesses
Completely covered
with multiple supporting
statements
Score given
Identifies a strength or
weakness only
Covered with one
supporting statement
Cultural Diversity Self-Assessment
Read each statement and circle the number that best describes your behavior or
belief. Remember, be as candid as possible with your responses, there are no right
or wrong answers.

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


1 = Never
2 = Almost never
3 = Sometimes
4 = Frequently
5 = Always
Assessment Question
I am aware of my own biases and how they affect my
thinking.
I can honestly assess my strengths and weaknesses in
the area of diversity and try to improve myself.
I assume good intent and ask for clarification when I
don’t understand what was said or implied.
I challenge others when they make racial/ethnic/sexually
offensive comments or jokes.
I speak up if I witness another person being humiliated
or discriminated against.
I do not participate in jokes that are derogatory to any
individual group.
7. I don’t believe that my having a friend of color means that I’m
culturally competent.
8. I understand why a lack of diversity in my social circle may be
perceived as excluding others.
9. I realize that people of other cultures have a need to support one
another and connect as a group.
10. I do not make assumptions about a person or individual group
until I have verified the facts on my own.
11. I have multiple friends from a variety of ethnicities and abilities.
12. I connect easily with people who do not look like me and am able
to communicate easily.
13. I’m interested in the ideas and beliefs of people who don’t think
and believe as I do, and I respect their opinions even when I
disagree.
14. I work to make sure people who are different from me are heard
and accepted.
15. I recognize and avoid language that reinforces stereotypes. (“jew
them down on the price”)
16. I know the stereotype of my ethnicity.
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17. I encourage culturally diverse people to speak out on their issues
and concerns and validate their issues.
18. Avoid assuming that others will have the same reaction as me
when discussing or viewing an issue.
19. I understand that I’m a product of my upbringing and believe
there are valid beliefs other than my own.
20. I do not take physical characteristics into account when
interacting with others and when making decisions about
competence or ability.
21. I recognize that others stereotype me and I try to overcome their
perceptions.
22. I include culturally diverse people in team decision making
processes that impact them.
23. I actively seek opportunities to connect with people different
than me and seek to build rapport.
24. I believe “color blindness” is a counter productive and devalues a
person’s culture or history.
25. I avoid generalizing behaviors or attitudes of one individual group
to another group. (“All men are…” or “All Asians act…” or
“Handicapped people usually…”)
26. I actively convey that nontraditional employees or students are
as skilled and competent as others.
27. I do not try to justify acts of discrimination to make the victim
feel better. I validate his/her assessment of what occurred.
28. I try to learn about and appreciate the richness of other cultures
and honor their holidays and events.
29. I believe there are policies and practices in place that negatively
impact people outside the majority culture.
30. I understand the definition of internalized racism and how it
impacts people of color.
31. I believe that race is a social construct, not a scientific fact.
32. I know and accept that a person’s experiences and background
impacts how they interact and trust me.
TOTAL SCORE:___________________
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