Twenty-second International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

This paper shares the student experience from a research study that employed an active learning approach in a World Literature course. While reading a short story, students used My Google Maps to create their own original maps based on their experiences with a story’s historical, cultural, and political underpinnings. Employing the Google platform’s tools, which includes images, links, and text boxes for example, students simulated walking the streets to construct a visual element that facilitated a deeper understanding of the story’s setting and theme. The immersive experience not only expanded students’ knowledge and understanding about the interconnections humans share across time and space, but they also exited the course with an enhanced global and cultural awareness and stronger critical thinking skills.