Crossing the Bridge How to Maintain a Connection Between the Study Abroad Site and the 'Home Turf' and How to Critically Reflect on Your Experience Before, During and After Your Study Abroad Experience Simone Schlichting-Artur, Ed.D. Drexel University, 2011

Overview A course called Crossing the Bridge 3 American students traveling to Taiwan Active use of e-learning solutions, in order to maintain relationship to “home turf”

Motivation Common problems in Study Abroad programs  Lack of cultural education  Lack of constant learning contact  Lack of long-term learning goals Crossing the Bridge course devised to enhance intercultural experiential learning through critical self-reflection

Keeping in Touch with the Home Turf Used e-learning solutions  Online forum  IM chat  Students submitted (and shared) assignments electronically Professional practice in technology

Goal: Becoming “multicultural” The truly grounded self, by Dillard (1994): a) Construction of self as object b) Deconstruction through critical self-reflection c) Critical self-consciousness d) Critical social political action Increase global awareness through self-awareness Combination of global outreach and “in-reach” Essential leadership skills for today

Assignments Cultural autobiography Intercultural interview Group discussions Family/friend interview (upon return) Research focus in cumulative project

Discussion Groups Professor joined students in Taiwan  Open sharing  Analyzing moments of feeling challenged Learning increased as result of intimacy In order for students to critically reflect, professor must, too!

Outcome Was critical social political action achieved?  1 student married a Taiwanese girl  1 student studied in Istanbul Students' awareness of self and world definitely increased Connection to home turf was an essential guiding force in development of students' awareness

Assessment: Teacher perspective Greater introspection in final projects  Should be ambitious and cumulative  Application of lived experiences Encourage students to live differently as well as think differently Critical social political action: hard to implement, harder to assess

Assessment: Student perspective Conceptualize assignments as complementary to lived experiences Confront difference Don't be afraid to undergo change, rather than witness it

Thank you for listening. Comments and criticism are welcome! Simone Schlichting-Artur, Ed.D. Drexel University, 2011