virtual intercultural exchanges in the classroom brittany lehr elaine clayton american university,...
TRANSCRIPT
Virtual Intercultural Exchanges in the
Classroom
Brittany LehrElaine Clayton
American University, School of International Service, U.S.A.
Why interest in virtual exchange?
• Focus on facilitating intercultural understandings between peoples
• Coursework• Managing intercultural programs • Real-world experience via living abroad • Relevant internships and jobs
• Concluded virtual exchange is the future
• Found Professor utilizing virtual exchanges at American
Professor Needs & Rationale
Assistance with assessing all aspects of the exchange projects & best practices
• Undergraduate course in Intercultural Relations
Overview of Course
• Professor connects with schools in Bahrain, Tunisia & Egypt
• Technology: DVC equipment
• Choice in class project:• U.S. students choose to work with a student
group abroad in a business course
• Professor feels strongly about a hands-off approach
Current Assessment Procedure
Pre and Post Surveys
• Data collected from students for the past 5 yrs
• Trends can be seen in the data
To meet new people/make new friends
To learn about the other group’s culture
To increase other’ understanding of one’s own culture
To improve language skills
Interest in this new type of project
For personal/professional improvement
Present our culture.
Why did students say they took part in this Virtual Communication project?
*Taken from IMI pre-semester survey 2009. Exchange with Bahrain.
What did students anticipate to be most challenging?
This will be a very difficult project
I am nervous as I don't know other students
*
My grade depends on others from another culture
*
The technology in a Virtual project is unknown to me
Language and cultural differences will be very
hard to deal with.
*
*Taken from IMI pre-semester survey 2009. Exchange with Bahrain.
Perceptions – Pre Project
Perceptions – Pre Project
Analysis of Previous Methods
• Questionable surveys– how questions asked, what was asked, what was it testing?
• Literature review showed new best practices
• Need more student perspective both domestically and abroad
• May need to alter professor’s pedagogy and teaching methods
Capstone Project Investigation
Decided on a research project investigating:
• Pedagogy: using the students as stakeholders in the project analysis instead of just survey participants. • Rationale, why students sign up, Professor’s value on
how he conceptualizes virtual learning
• Realities: what is described to teachers abroad, project realities
• Instruments: what other technologies are used, is DVC enough
Pedagogy
• Professor’s perceptions• In-depth interviews with professor• Why utilizing virtual exchange?
• Real-world skills used in all sectors, Intercultural competencies, Comfort with new technologies
• Hands-off approach most successful – or is it?
• Student rationale for signing up• Survey students here and abroad – still being
approved• Interviews in-person and via Skype
Realities
• Description of project vs. project outcome• Interview Professors abroad• Determine best practices from participant
observation methods
• Cultural context of student values• Intercultural surveys given out to students before
and midway through exchange – TBD• Interviews
• Were Professor’s thoughts in-line with students’?• Compare and contrast interviews and survey data
Instruments
• Effectiveness of current technologies• Student surveys and interviews • Ask about types of technologies used
throughout the exchange• What comfortable with using inside and outside
of class
• What other exchanges are using• Academic articles• Exchange 2.0 outcomes• Virtual exchange organizations
Roadblocks
• Exchanges this semester will not begin until mid-February
• Approval of survey has been a grueling process!
• Connecting schedules with Professors and students both domestically and abroad are a challenge
• No conclusions as of yet, open to suggestions from the audience for other ways to investigate
