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

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 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  Advantages of Promotes active collaboration Authentic, meaningful context Immediate and efficient “culture is dialogically created through language in discourse”

Defining project objectives: cross-cultural  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

[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

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  Michele Mislevy  Ana Heredia  Gladys Aguilera