G.E.T.T.
Global Education
Through Technology
An International Classroom
Italy
Ukraine
Lebanon
United States
Classroom Activities
Topic-Based Dialogue
Family
Cultural Traditions
Work/Meaning of Life
Exchange of Lectures
Text of lecture
from
Culture 1
Text of lecture
from
Culture 2
Classroom Activities
Working with activity rotations:
Students move from live video to chat
Advance consideration of:
Different semester start dates
Matching classes by time zone
“Plan B” in case of technology
failure
Benefits of this Model
Students are exposed
to truly global
perspectives
A dynamic relation
between four cultures
Video-conferencing is the
next best thing to travel!
Multiple viewpoints
assure balance
among institutions
Enables institutional
networks for future
collaboration
Benefits of this Model
Technology is affordable and sustainable
Widely used H.323 standard based
Chat and email support is (almost) always available
Technical support is
essential
Broadband connection
of 256K essential
User-friendly
Technology
Extensions of the Model
Topic-Oriented
dialogue – input
from other
countries on a
specific
issue/topic in a
course.
Study Abroad
Pre-travel
Orientation
Guest Lectures
(national or
international)
Core: an international
experience through
Interpersonal
dialogue
Occasional Shared
Readings and
Assignments
Co-development of a
course which fully
integrates international
partnership(s)
Curriculum Integration –
Your Institution
• Coordinate courses with international
components
• Develop international components of
current courses (develop or connect)
– A region of interest to particular disciplines
– A topic of interest in a particular discipline
• Most challenging - develop new courses
Curriculum Integration
Faculty-driven at the individual course level
• Course partnerships are very flexible
– economics with political science
– child development with sociology
• The goal is a substantial contribution of an
international perspective to selected content
A Sociology Connection
Curriculum Integration
• Provide
materials that can be shared
• Professor lecture notes/powerpoints
• References to news sites/cultural resources/your
own online materials
• Class connections beyond the classroom
• Pictures?
http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i72/projectpoland_2006
• Encourage dialogue beyond a focus on the US
• Cultural exchange and content coverage
should be balanced
What Makes This Happen:
Technical Support
Of course, this whole
project relies on
successful technology
and “tech support.”
Firewall – There must be a way to open
systems to video-conferencing.
Broadband – There must be a minimum
bandwidth for successful connections
What We Learned – Challenges
• More work for faculty than expected: many
lectures to accommodate different student
groups; incorporation of new delivery and/or
content in regular classes; etc.
• Multiple groups must be consulted for project
success (initial contact, test connections, faculty
consultation, etc.).
• Problems (technical, political, logistical, etc) are
to be expected!
• Negotiating time zones and different university
calendars was sometimes difficult.
What We Learned – Rewards
• Everybody wants to do this! You can count on
your partners.
• Personal connections inspire faculty as well as
students and can lead to further collaboration.
• The excitement of being part of a budding
international educational community.
• The model is adaptable to other goals/visions.
What Worked for Us
• Keeping in regular email contact with
international colleagues
• Sharing paper copies of all lectures
• Early distribution of student handouts clearly
defining:
–
–
–
–
A typical class session
Assignment expectations
Student responsibilities to partners
Intercultural and videoconferencing communication
issues
• Early establishment of student partnerships
More of What Worked
• Prepared questions to initiate discussions
• Prepared ways of connecting course
content to student’s lives and experiences
– Selection of content
– Structure of discussions
– Types of assignments
• Encouraging student email contact outside
of class
Try It Yourself!
Please feel free to contact us:
Dr. Elizabeth Shadish – 310-660-3763
eshadish@elcamino.edu
Bozena (“Bo”) Morton – 310-660-3235
bmorton@elcamino.edu