Abstract
Current information and communication technologies allow for many and varied cross-cultural connections. To succeed in the 21st century global society, students should develop the knowledge and skills that will enable them to appropriately interact and work with people from different cultures. The rapid growth of online learning has created a need to study online environments which foster cross-cultural learning communities. Our study explored how cultural perceptions may influence students’ online communication and collaboration behaviors. Based on a social constructivist pedagogy and the study’s findings, we propose a series of guidelines intended to help educators design effective online learning experiences and instruction for a cross-cultural learning community.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Cross-Cultural: Cross-cultural is comparing or dealing with two or more different cultures.
Social Interaction: Social interaction is a dynamic, changing sequence of social actions between individuals (or groups) who modify their actions and reactions due to the actions by their interaction partner(s).
Learning Environment: Learning environment is the place and setting where learning occurs; it is not limited to a physical classroom and includes the characteristics of the setting.
Social Constructivism: Social constructivism is a theory of knowledge and learning which contends that categories of knowledge and reality are actively created by social relationships and interactions.
Instructional Design: Instructional design is the systematic process of translating principles of learning and instruction into plans for instructional materials and activities.
Online Learning: Online learning is the exchange of information, ideas, and opinions between and among learners and teachers, usually occurring through technology with the aim of facilitating learning.
Communication: Communication is the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behavior.
Collaboration: Collaboration is to work together, especially in a joint intellectual effort.