Abstract
This presentation relates the activities that supported the formation of online collaboration between Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) in Chicago and the University of Liberia in Monrovia, Liberia. The purpose of this collaboration was to develop a shared curriculum that promotes global citizenship and effectively engages students from different cultures with one another. The shared curriculum took place within the Community Development class, offered at the Kofi Annan Institute for Conflict Transformation in the University of Liberia, and the Health Disparities class, offered in the Department of Health Sciences and Physical Education at NEIU. The hosting of course materials (e.g., readings, videos, and assignments) and the communication exchange was supported primarily by a learning management system (Desire 2 Learn; D2L) and video conferencing (Zoom). Most of the inter-institutional communication was conducted asynchronously; however, both the NEIU students and Liberia students met with their own classmates weekly. Two class sessions brought together the two sets of students synchronously via Zoom. A course-end survey revealed most students agreed the collaboration increased their understanding of health challenges and disparities in Chicago and Liberia, their familiarity with the opportunities and challenges for cross-national communication; and their ability to engage with people from a different culture. In light of the two countries strikingly dissimilar propensities towards collectivism versus individualism (as per Geert-Hofstede’s 5-D model), we regard these outcomes as a success. Future research will explore how these differences, including the variation in social and economic advances, might impact the collaborative experience.
Presenters
Jennifer R BanasCindy S York
Associate Professor, Educational Technology, Research and Assessment, Northern Illinois University, United States Isidore Udoh
Associate Professor, Health Sciences and Physical Education, Northeastern Illinois University, Illinois, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Transnational Curriculum, Social Transformation, Learner Diversity, Pedagogy, Digital Learning
