iemg 8650a: practicum deliverable no. 2 geo staff meeting...

Tan’s Practicum Deliverable No.2

IEMG 8650A: Practicum Deliverable No. 2

GEO Staff Meeting (Scavenger Hunt) Report

Professor: Katherine Punteney, Ed.D.

Monterey Institute of International Studies

Sierra Tan

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Context

In line with the 2011 Strategic Planning of Santa Clara University to foster multicultural engagement and global understanding, the Global Engagement Office (GEO) has decided to organize a series of staff meetings over the summer which promotes staff members’ understanding of different cultures of SCU’s international students and among each other. The first such meeting was organized by the Associate Provost in late June; I offered to carry out the second meeting together with Alex, who is on the same IEM program and works in the GEO for the summer (until August 8th). I was the main presenter/organizer of this event, which took place on August 6th when eight out of nine GEO staff were present (Staff are taking turns to go on vacation over the summer).

Theme of the Meeting: Hofstede’s Five Cultural Dimensions

In my first project : the “Global Guide” – a pre-departure handbook for all students about to participate in an education program abroad – I tell students to use Professor Hofstede’s five cultural dimensions as a framework when learning about a new culture. Therefore, I think it is necessary for the GEO staff to have a good understanding of this model as well; which was explained during the briefing before the hunt (a handout was given to staff), and discussed after the event.

Format of the Meeting

In order to make the meeting informative and engaging, I came up with the idea of scavenger hunt (in the form of a competition), which was inspired by the Leadership Training program organized by ISI (International Students Incorporation) this May. To make it relevant to the theme, three cultural items – a handheld fan, a sacred cow (made from bronze), and a pair of boxing gloves – from three countries – China, India and Philippines – were chosen for the hunt. We chose these countries because they are among the top four countries that send most international students to SCU (India, China, Canada and Philippines). We skipped Canada because its culture is similar to that of the U.S.

Six staff members were divided into three teams (red, blue and green), and a competition was carried out based on completing the tasks below:

1. They should find the three cultural objects (hidden on three spots across the campus)as quick as they can;

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2. Upon finding of each item, they should take a photo and send it to a given email account. The photo needs to be as creative as possible;

3. Identify which country each cultural item belongs to (Question No.1 on their instructions handout);

4. Based on their understanding of those countries, referring to the five indices of three countries provided on a graph, identify each country on the graph below (Questions No.2):

5. When the hunt is over, they should back to the conference room for group

discussion on questions below: a. What comes to your mind upon seeing each cultural item? b. Is there anything else about this country’s culture (esp. a certain

behavioral pattern of its students) you’d like to discuss/tell?

Agenda 1. Briefing (12-12:20pm) 2. Scavenger hunt (12:20-1:00pm) 3. Lunch (1-1:30pm) 4. Group discussion (1:30-2:15pm) 5. Rewards for the Winning Team! (2:15-2:20pm)

Criteria for Winning

Total points: 200 Breakdown of points:

• Speed: 1st place: 100 points; 2nd: 80 points; 3rd: 60 points

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• Answers to Question No.1: 30 points (10 points each) • Identifying countries on the graph: 30 points(10 points each) • Creativity of photo: 1st place: 40 points; 2nd: 30 points; 3rd: 20 points

Preparations for the Meeting

1. Ordering of cultural items:

Through Amazon, we ordered the three cultural items: a Chinese handheld fan, an Indian sacred cow statue, and a pair of Manny Pacquiao boxing gloves.

2. Selecting of three locations for hiding the cultural items:

After careful deliberation, we decided to hide the sacred cow inside a rounded shrub in front of the mission church; the Chinese fan in the wooden cupboard under a Webster’s dictionary on the second floor of the main SCU library; and the boxing gloves in the vines at the patio adjacent to the Law School Library.

3. Learning to use Prezi for presentation:

In response to the GEO’s recent call to make use of various apps on iPad, I decided to use Prezi for the presentation, which can be seen online at the link below: http://prezi.com/teh0c5sulaqf/?utm_campaign=share&ut

4. Crafting instructions (handouts) for staff:

Even though everything would be explained clearly during the presentation, I decided to put all instructions on paper and distribute to every member. All handouts distributed are listed below:

• Instructions for scavenger hunt (Appendix A): each team starts from a different location, thus the first clue for each team is different. The rest of the instructions are all the same.

• Hofstede’s cultural dimensions (Appendix B) • Cultural comparison Table among U.S., India, China & Philippines (Appendix C)

5. Organizing lunch for staff:

Specialty’s group order was used to cater to different needs of individual member.

Photos of the Event

Some photos taken before, during, and after the staff meeting are shown on the next pages.

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http://prezi.com/teh0c5sulaqf/?utm_campaign=share&ut


“Is this secretive enough?” Deep into the foliage

Cupboard on 2nd floor of the library Under the book of definition

“Where is it?” “I’ve found it!”

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Voted most creative photos:

“That hurts!” “I’ve found the fan!”

“Kiss the cow!” Most amiable boxer!

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Group photo after the staff meeting:

The two presenters with three cultural items:

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Appendix A: Instructions for Cultural Scavenger Hunt (pp. 6-11)

GEO Cultural Scavenger Hunt Date: August 6th 2013 Team Name: Color: Red Your Tasks:

1. Find the three cultural objects as soon as you can, rewards are waiting for the winning team!

2. Upon finding of each item, place a sticker of your team color, and use the sharpie to mark your time of discovery (on the sticker);

3. Use your iPad to take a photo of each cultural item upon discovery (it can include one of your teammates). The more creative the photo is, the better;

4. Upon finding the last item, please send the photos of all three items to [email protected]. We will use the time when this email is sent as your time of completing the hunt. Alternatively, you can send each photo individually upon taking it; then the time when the third photo is sent will be referenced as the time your team completed the hunt;

5. Answer questions No. 1 & 2 below; 6. When all three teams have finished the hunt, please get back to the conference

room to discuss Questions No. 3 & 4; 7. Only one winning team will be rewarded! Try your best!

Criteria for Winning the Competition: Total points: 200 Points Breakdown: The first team to finish the hunt: 100 points Answers to First Question (each 10 points): 30 points Mark the countries (each 10 points): 30 points The most creative photo: 40 points Total: 200 points

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mailto:[email protected]


Clue on the location of your first hunt: Clue 1: Look for a plastic bag containing a small object in front of the building that was founded in 1777. Inside the bag there is a slip providing you with tips on the second hunt. Good luck! Questions for You:

1. Which country does this item/these items belong to? Item A: Country A: Item B: Country B: Item C: Country C:

2. On the graph below, the five indices of three countries are given. Please match the three countries to the different colors based on your projection of their cultural dimensions.

3. What comes to your mind upon seeing each item?

Item A: Item B:

Item C:

4. Is there anything else about this country’s culture (esp. a certain behavioral pattern of its students) you’d like to discuss/tell?

If your team gets stuck and requires another clue, you can text Sierra at 831-920-7629 (Each clue will add 5 minutes to your team’s time)

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GEO Cultural Scavenger Hunt Date: August 6th 2013 Team Name: Color: Blue Your Tasks:




4. Upon finding of the last item, please send the three photos of all three items to [email protected]. We will use the time when this email is sent as your time of completing the hunt. Alternatively, you can send each photo individually upon its taking; then the time when the third photo is sent will be referenced as the time your team complete the hunt;



Criteria for Winning the Competition: Total points: 200 Points Breakdown: The first team to finish the hunt: 100 points Answers to First Question (each 10 points): 30 points Mark the countries (each 10 points): 30 points The most creative photo: 40 points Total: 200 points Clue on the location of your first hunt: Clue 1: This object is hidden in the vines near where the law students take their cigarette/lunch breaks. Once you find it, you’ll find your next clue. Good luck!

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Questions for You:

1. Which country does this item/these items belong to? Item A: Country A: Item B: Country B: Item C: Country C:

2. On the graph below, the five indices of three countries are given. Please match the three countries to the different colors based on your projection of their cultural dimensions.


Item A: Item B:

Item C:

4. Is there anything else about this country’s culture (esp. a certain behavioral pattern of its students) you’d like to discuss/tell?


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GEO Cultural Scavenger Hunt Date: August 6th 2013 Team Name: Color: Green Your Tasks:




4. Upon finding of the last item, please send the three photos of all three items to [email protected]. We will use the time when this email is sent as your time of completing the hunt. Alternatively, you can send each photo individually upon its taking; then the time when the third photo is sent will be referenced as the time your team complete the hunt;



Criteria for Winning the Competition: Total points: 200 Points Breakdown: The first team to finish the hunt: 100 points Answers to First Question (each 10 points): 30 points Mark the countries (each 10 points): 30 points The most creative photo: 40 points Total: 200 points

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Clue on the location of your first hunt: Clue 1: Look below the big book of definitions (3rd edition) on the second floor of the building on campus where the most knowledge is stored. There you’ll find your next clue. Good luck! Questions for You:

1. Which country does this item/these items belong to? a. Item A: Country A: b. Item B: Country B: c. Item C: Country C:

2. On the graph below, the five indices of three countries are given. Please match

the three countries to the different colors based on your projection of their cultural dimensions.


Item A: Item B: Item C:

4. Is there anything else about this country’s culture (esp. a certain behavioral

pattern of its students) you’d like to discuss/tell?


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Appendix B: Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions (pp. 12-13)

(GEO Staff Meeting Handouts)

Power Distance (PDI)

This dimension expresses the degree to which the less powerful members of a society accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. The fundamental issue here is how a society handles inequalities among people. People in societies exhibiting a large degree of power distance accept a hierarchical order in which everybody has a place and which needs no further justification. In societies with low power distance, people strive to equalise the distribution of power and demand justification for inequalities of power.

Individualism versus collectivism (IDV)

The high side of this dimension, called Individualism, can be defined as a preference for a loosely-knit social framework in which individuals are expected to take care of themselves and their immediate families only. Its opposite, Collectivism, represents a preference for a tightly-knit framework in society in which individuals can expect their relatives or members of a particular in-group to look after them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty. A society's position on this dimension is reflected in whether people’s self-image is defined in terms of “I” or “we.”

Masculinity versus femininity (MAS)

The masculinity side of this dimension represents a preference in society for achievement, heroism, assertiveness and material reward for success. Society at large is more competitive. Its opposite, femininity, stands for a preference for cooperation, modesty, caring for the weak and quality of life. Society at large is more consensus-oriented.

Uncertainty avoidance (UAI)

The uncertainty avoidance dimension expresses the degree to which the members of a society feel uncomfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity. The fundamental issue here is how a society deals with the fact that the future can never be known: should we try to control the future or just let it happen? Countries exhibiting strong UAI maintain rigid codes of belief and behaviour and are intolerant of unorthodox behaviour and ideas. Weak UAI societies maintain a more relaxed attitude in which practice counts more than principles.

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Long-term versus short-term orientation (LTO)

The long-term orientation dimension can be interpreted as dealing with society’s search for virtue. Societies with a short-term orientation generally have a strong concern with establishing the absolute Truth. They are normative in their thinking. They exhibit great respect for traditions, a relatively small propensity to save for the future, and a focus on achieving quick results. In societies with a long-term orientation, people believe that truth depends very much on situation, context and time. They show an ability to adapt traditions to changed conditions, a strong propensity to save and invest, thriftiness, and perseverance in achieving results.

Indulgence versus Restraint (IVR) (Recent addition)

Indulgence stands for a society that allows relatively free gratification of basic and natural human drives related to enjoying life and having fun. Restraint stands for a society that suppresses gratification of needs and regulates it by means of strict social norms.

U.S.’ Scores on the Five Cultural Dimensions

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Appendix C: Cultural Comparison among

China, India, Philippines and the U.S.

Country PDI IDV MAS UAI LTO China 80 20 66 30 118 India 77 48 56 40 61 Philippines 94 32 64 44 19 U.S. 40 91 62 46 29

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