C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

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SETTING THE STAGE

Online asynchronous Disability Awareness course American instructor Includes non-US learners, English proficient

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C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

MULTIFACETED CHALLENGES

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Symptom Possible Reasons

Research Tools

Possible Solutions

Reluctance to participate

Lack of problem-solving skills

High dependence on you, structure

Concerns about assessment

C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

RELUCTANCE TO PARTICIPATE

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Symptom Possible Reasons

Research Tools

Possible Solutions

Reluctance to participate

C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

RELUCTANCE TO PARTICIPATE

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Symptom Possible Reasons

Research Tools

Possible Solutions

Reluctance to participate

Power distance, hierarchy

Foundational research on cultural dimensions

Country Navigator™

Country-specific research on learning, educ. system

Face saving

Language skills

Instructional technique

• Explain extensively

• Create a safe zone

• Allow anonymity

• Use techniques less reliant on language

• Use Global English

• Include practice

C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

FOUNDATIONAL RESEARCH

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Hofstede’s National Cultural Dimensions

http://geert-hofstede.com/united-states.html

C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

CULTURE TOOLS

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Country Navigator™The Essentials

www.CountryNavigator.com

C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

RELATED TOPICS

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Global English for Global Business

http://writing.co.nz/global-english/index.htm

C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

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KEY WORDS• Education• eLearning• Multicultural• Intercultural

C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

LACK OF PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS

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Symptom Possible Reasons

Research Tools

Possible Solutions

Lack of problem-solving skills

C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

LACK OF PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS

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Symptom Possible Reasons

Research Tools

Possible Solutions

Lack of problem-solving skills

Education system: roles, methods

Country Navigator™

Culture Wizard™

Directed research on content itself in country context

Learner analysis

Content relevance

Exposure to U.S.

How they think!

• Use previous recommendations, especially practice

• Explain facilitated learning

• Scaffold content to contextualize

• Offer multiple ways to access content, to participate

C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

CULTURAL TOOLS

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C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

CONTENT RESEARCH

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“People with disabilities in China, prior to the year 1980, were referred to with discriminatory terms such as, "can fei," which means, "the handicapped and useless." There is still a great deal to be accomplished in order to realize the full equality, participation, and sharing of people with disabilities in China.  Within the Chinese community disability may be considered a stigma. Oriental metaphysical concepts consider each individual's life span as a link on a chain, where each individual is seen as the 'product of all the generations of his or her family from the beginning of time'. Due to this link with ancestors, the existence of disability is sometimes explained as coming from ancestral spirits, trying.. Generally when a child with disability was born the child would often be regarded as a burden and as bringing shame on the family. The parents would…

C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

HIGH DEPENDENCE ON STRUCTURE

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Symptom Possible Reasons

Research Tools

Possible Solutions

High dependence on you, structure

C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

HIGH DEPENDENCE ON STRUCTURE

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Symptom Possible Reasons

Research Tools

Possible Solutions

High dependence on you, structure

High level of uncertainty avoidance

Foundational research, online cultural tools

Learner analysis

Localization resources

Learner input!

Teachers’ roles versus students’

Language skills

• Extensive explanations, including detailed syllabi, expectations, schedules

• Alternate methods (video)

• Early access to course materials

C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

LOCALIZATION RESOURCES

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C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

CONCERNS ABOUT ASSESSMENT

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Symptom Possible Reasons

Research Tools

Possible Solutions

Concerns about assessment

C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

CONCERNS ABOUT ASSESSMENT

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Symptom Possible Reasons

Research Tools

Possible Solutions

Concerns about assessment

Social expectations for education, passing

All those discussed previously

Current research

Learner analysis

Learner input!

Uncertainty avoidance

Unfamiliar with techniques (PBL)

• Explain ‘success’

• Describe assessment and testing, “error” techniques

• Connect to motivation

• Expect ‘cheating’

C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

LEARNER INPUT

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Speaking for the 'Communist' generation, I remember how back in primary school, we were constantly encouraged to keep quiet (even in the canteen!) and literally to sit with our hands behind our backs. Small wonder then that to this day, most of us are uncomfortable with receiving praise, giving instructions to others, being presented with choice etc.

--Martin Kralik, LinkedIn posting about Russian culture

C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

LEARNER RESEARCH

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Solutions offered by the learners themselves:

• Providing a well-defined and predictable course

assessment schedule for preplanning

• Awareness of cultural contexts in plagiarism

practices

• Multiple assessment methods and process-oriented

assessment adaptive to different cultural styles

• Providing more information on the cultural contexts

or explanations of the culturally specific terms of the

case study

C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

CULTURAL ANALYSIS/AUDIT

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CULTURAL DISCONTINUITYCultural discontinuity is defined as “a lack of contextual match between the conditions of learning and a learner’s socio-cultural experiences.”

(Wilson, 2001, p. 52)

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C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

OUR ULTIMATE GOAL Equitable learning outcomes

TimeEffortResults!

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How can we know what we don’t know?

The CAP* Model

The Course Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

1: Content Computer skills, math

Company policy

Super-vision

Leadership, ethics

2: Approach

3: Media

4: Other

The Learners Examples

1: Environmental Time, distance, resources, technology, geopolitical

2: Socio-Economic Values, religion, gender differences, social status

3: Communications Language, symbolism, gestures, body language

4: Cultural Dimensions, esp. in education

Individualism, power distance, low vs. high context, uncertainty avoidance, time orientation

5: Other Learning styles

Progressively more complex…

Adaptations Translate Localize Reusable Learning Objects

Originate Other

*Cultural Adaptation Process – an iterative, research-based process that allows educators, trainers, and instructional designers to accommodate the learning styles, preferences, and characteristics of learners in other cultures/countries. 24

C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

THE MULTIFACETED CHALLENGE

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C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

CONCLUSION Research differences Prioritize needs Recommend changes Test recommendations Implement

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C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

RESOURCES Seminal cross-cultural research

Hall, E. T. (1981). Beyond culture: Into the cultural unconscious. Garden City, NY, Anchor Press.

Hofstede, G. H. (1997). Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind. London; New York, McGraw-Hill.

Trompenaars, A. and C. Hampden-Turner (1998). Riding the waves of culture: Understanding cultural diversity in global business. New York, London, McGraw Hill.

Websites http://geert-hofstede.com/national-culture.html Country Navigator: www.CountryNavigator.com Multilingual Magazine: http://www.multilingual.com/issueDetail.php Learning Times Podcast “Culturally Appropriate Instructional Design”:

http://www.ltgreenroom.org/episodes/213

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C O P Y R I G H T 2 0 1 1 E W O R L D L E A R N I N G , I N C .

RESOURCES My Publications

Edmundson, A.L. (In press). Cultural implications in online learning. Hershey, PA, IGI Global.

Edmundson, A. L. (2011). Cases on globalized and culturally appropriate e-learning: Challenges and solutions. Hershey, PA, IGI Global.

Edmundson, A. L. (2010). Training for multicultural audiences. Washington, D.C., ASTD Press.

Edmundson, A. L., Ed. (2007). Globalized e-learning cultural challenges. Hershey, PA, Idea Group, Inc.

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