crossing borders: digital cultural exchange for preservice teachers necc 2004

Crossing Borders: Digital Cultural Exchange for Preservice Teachers

NECC 2004

Presenters

Karen Jogan Albright College, Reading PA

Michele Mislevy Albright College, Reading PA

Ana Heredia Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica Chile

Gladys Aguilera Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica Chile

Overview

What? Cultural and bilingual exchange (Spanish –

English) Why?

To advance proficiency in target language and culture

How? Through collaboration and technology

For whom? Preservice teachers

Outline

Digital exchange as “best practice” Establishing institutional collaboration Addressing standards Examining contexts of instruction Defining project objectives – four models for

cross-cultural exchange Challenges and possible solutions Discussion

Defining a “best practice” in preservice teacher education

Provide authentic context for learning target language and target culture

Allow for collaborative learning Incorporate technology in the instructional

model

Defining culture

What is culture?

…some definitions

Defining culture

“Culture is…believing that man is an animal suspended in webs of significance he himself has spun, I take culture to be those webs…and the analysis of [culture] to be … an interpretive one in search of meaning.” Clifford Geertz

Defining culture

How can we engage students in interactive discussion of culture?

How can students view another cultural perspective?

How can we help students interpret the “web” of another culture?

Defining culture

Establish cross cultural connections Connect with a colleague abroad… Connect students with peers abroad Locate a colleague abroad through

http://www.iecc.org

Addressing standards

National and international organizations ISTE ACTFL

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

TESOL Teachers of English to Speakers of Other

Languages Ministry of Education abroad

Selecting appropriate technology

Consider lowest common denominators E-mail PowerPoint

sound digital images streaming video

Blogs

Selecting appropriate technology

Advantages of asynchronous dialogue Learner centered Self-paced No time zone problems Requires limited tech skill

Examining contexts of instruction:

in Arica, Chile in Reading, Pennsylvania

Examining contexts of instruction

Preservice teachers Similar age Similar educational background Similar interests Similar motivational level

Examining contexts of instruction

Roles of coordinators in US and in Chile

Defining project objectives

Cross-cultural competence Communicative competence Interactive strategies Critical thinking and analysis of authentic

texts Collaborative strategies to support peer

correction

Defining project objectives: cross-cultural e-mail

Advantages of e-mail Promotes active collaboration Authentic, meaningful context Immediate and efficient “culture is dialogically created through language

in discourse”

Defining project objectives: cross-cultural e-mail

Project design Time frame Topics Process Coaching in dialog journal strategies Assessment

Defining project objectives: cross-cultural PowerPoint

Collaborative research projects On site team research Dialog and discussion Comparison and contrast Creative final project

Defining project objectives: cross-cultural PowerPoint

Possible topics: Compare Independence Day activities Compare daily activities in school Compare a supermarket Interview an individual in a specific career Describe a local monument and its significance

Cross cultural PowerPoint -- examples

Cross cultural PowerPoint -- examples

Cross cultural PowerPoint -- examples

[Click on picture to view project]

Cross cultural PowerPoint -- examples

[Click on picture to view project]

Culture Modules

Designing materials for teachers of English as a Foreign Language abroad

Culture Modules

Topic selection Design process

storyboarding identifying and capturing digital artifacts

Creating cultural module

Culture Modules – some examples

[Click on picture to view project]

Culture Modules – some examples

[Click on picture to view project]

Developing cultural insights

Post-questions: What did you learn about this topic in your own

culture? What did you learn about cultural perspectives

from your peers abroad?

Collaborative research projects

Topic choice Digital exchange for research project

Collaborative research projects

Sample topics:

How can feedback on EFL essays improve writing skills?

What strategies can be used to measure improvement in EFL listening?

Compare education systems in USA and in Chile

Collaborative Research Projects – some examples

Collaborative Research Projects – some examples

Suggestions for Future Implementation

Establish alternate lines of communication Assign peer/partner after training period Promote flexibility in topic choice Teach for improved coherence

Drawing conclusions

Cross cultural collaboration… Promotes interactive dialog Builds empathy and critical thinking skills Employs a constructivist, learner-centered

approach Empowers through technology

Your turn…

Questions? Comments? Ideas for exchange?

Contact Information

Karen Jogan kjogan@alb.edu

Michele Mislevy mmislevy@alb.edu

Ana Heredia aheredia@uta.cl

Gladys Aguilera gaguiler@uta.cl