Communication in a Global Society Technology

Global Challenges: Technology Andrew McAfee, Ph.D. Co-Director of the Initiative on the Digital Economy, MIT Sloan School of Management TED Talk: What will future jobs look like? https://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_mcafee_what_will_future_jobs_look_like#t-7084 With a duration of 14:15, this video is somewhat lengthy and has a lot of information to unpack for/with your students.

Discussion These discussion questions are meant to facilitate discussion based on the Global Challenges: Technology video. It isn’t necessary for you to use every question or go in any particular order. These questions could be administered as a large group, in small groups or pairs. Some questions could be responded to in writing. If many current jobs are at risk with newly emerging technologies, how can society prepare for such a paradigm shift? How can technology increase the standard of living for people in poor parts of the world (e.g. in medicine, telecommunications and agriculture)? What technologies can reduce the impact of human populations on the environment?

Issues vs. Attitudes Can my personality help me or hold me back in learning new things or considering new ideas? How does our openness to new or different ideas impact our learning? How do you know whether or not you are open to new/different ideas? These discussion questions are meant to facilitate discussion related to cultural mindset and are just suggestions. It isn’t necessary for you to use every question or go in any particular order. These questions could be administered as a large group, in small groups or pairs. Some questions could be responded to in writing. Please feel free to develop your own questions to stimulate discussion.

Global Mindset: A Case Study Sam is waiting for class to start and overhears a small group of students talking about their international teaching assistant. The students complain that they can’t understand the instructor because the instructor “can’t speak English.” One of the students even says that the instructor is “dumb” and questions why she is even allowed to teach. Sam asked the instructor a question last week after class and had a really different experience! Below are some resources for teaching with case studies. Teaching with Case Studies - Speaking of Teaching, Stanford University Newsletter on Teaching https://web.stanford.edu/dept/CTL/Newsletter/case_studies.pdf Using Case Studies to Teach – Boston University Center for Teaching & Learning http://www.bu.edu/ctl/teaching-resources/using-case-studies-to-teach/

Global Mindset: A Case Study He felt like the instructor was very intelligent and helpful, and he didn’t have any problems understanding her. Sam noticed that she seems easier to understand now that they’ve talked one-on-one, and he learned that she has quite a bit of experience working in her country. He feels badly that other students are talking so negatively about her. Below are some resources for teaching with case studies. Teaching with Case Studies - Speaking of Teaching, Stanford University Newsletter on Teaching https://web.stanford.edu/dept/CTL/Newsletter/case_studies.pdf Using Case Studies to Teach – Boston University Center for Teaching & Learning http://www.bu.edu/ctl/teaching-resources/using-case-studies-to-teach/

Case Study Discussion Questions What do you think is happening in this class? What challenges might this instructor face teaching in another language? What can these students do to broaden their perception and change their attitudes? What can Sam say to his classmates? Please note that these questions are simply meant as suggestions to start a conversation. You are encouraged to develop your own questions or let the conversation emerge as your students respond to the case study.