Jami Leibowitz, Ph.D. Leslie Pagliari, Ph.D. Global Academic
Initiatives
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We Live In An Interconnected World
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The Situation Strangers in a new culture see only what they
know. Arab Proverb We cannot build our own future without helping
others to build theirs. William Clinton
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Why Global Academic Initiatives / Global Understanding? 79% of
U.S. population agree that college students should have a study
abroad experience. Approximately 4% of U.S. college students study
abroad. Approximately 2% of ECU students study abroad. 100 % of
students will face challenges associated with a globalized
world
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What About the Other 95+%? The world is diverse - need to
understand Students info: movies and television Stereotypes and
misunderstandings abound Risks and fears of foreign travel are real
Project Goal: use regular internet technologies to bring
international students and faculty into the same virtual
classroom
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International Education and Research via a Virtual
Collaborative Environment Promoting Discovery Exploration
Engagement Collaboration Understanding Within and Between
Cultures
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Building Relationships since 2003 Over 50 partner institutions
in over 30 countries. Impacting approximately 2500 students
worldwide this year. Algeria, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia,
Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, The Gambia, Germany, India, Iraq,
Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova,
Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Russia, Spain,
Taiwan, Turkey, UK, USA
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Andrew Heiskell Award Innovation in International
Education
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OUR GOALS Use simple, widely available Internet technology to
provide students an easily accessible, meaningful international
experience. Create a virtual collaborative environment where
students can develop a deeper, first hand understanding of other
cultures and themselves. Provide an environment where students can
develop the skills necessary to become global workers and citizens.
Create opportunities for international collaborative research.
Encourage continued international education.
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Benefits to Our Students Develop global competence and broader
understanding of global perspectives Learn to effectively
communicate with people for whom English is a second language
Better understanding of own culture Cost/time effective; minimize
risks & fears Complements study abroad program Better job
opportunities for students who have global work and communication
experiences
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Global Understanding Course Shared Discipline Specific Courses
Course Modules Lecture Series Individual Lecture Exchange Global
Discussions Special Events Research Global Academic
Initiatives
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Tools Inexpensive, Sustainable & Reliable Regular Internet
Based Minimum 256K Upload and Download Videoconferencing Standard
H.323 Protocol Chat IRC Plan to Fail! Webconferencing Sabameeting
Wiki Confluence
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Work with 3 +1 cultures over the semester for approximately 4 5
weeks each. General Education Credit in multiple disciplines (3
SCH) Facilitated student discussion. Collaborative project. Develop
a better understanding of other cultures from peer students living
within those cultures. Academically and Disciplinarily Independent.
The CoreShared format, topics, procedures Dual StructureLink vs.
Local Time ANTH 1050 COMM 1050 ENGL 1000* FORL 1060 INTL 1050 MIS
4963* POLS 1050 PSYC 1070 SOCI 3000* Global Understanding
Courses
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Discipline Specific Courses Global Climate Change Global
Leadership and Global English
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Course Modules Youth Theatre 27
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Medical Lecture Series Series for medical students Various
topics each semester Universities from Ethiopia, Moldova and Iraq
attend via teleconference Example Topics Cardiac Physical
Examinations Type 2 Diabetes Asthma Pulmonary Vascular Diseases
Anxiety Disorder
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Lecture Exchanges ECU Mexico: The U.S. Electoral Process and
the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election. Mexico ECU: The Mexican
Electoral Process and the 2012 Mexican Presidential Election
Nigeria ECU Patriarchy, Womens Rights and Widow Inheritance in
Nigeria ECU China American Folklore and Urban Legends Malaysia ECU
Traditional Malaysian Music and Instruments ECU Pakistan Language
and Culture China ECU: Public Archaeology in China ECU China:
Public Archaeology in the U.S. ECU Poland: The Super Mother Role in
India and the US Poland ECU: The Super Mother Role in Poland in the
context of the EU Peru ECU Peruvian Cuisine
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Global Discussions ECU and Chile COAD 1000 Class
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Special Events Womens Studies Panel 1:09 Dancing with the World
International Education Week Dancing with the World International
Education Week
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Research: International Collaboration
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Global Partners in Education
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Global Partners in Education Journal
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Solutions that Meet the Need Attitude, Behavior, and Cognitive
components Face to face provides rich communication Multiple
cultures promote balanced view All countries participate -
beneficial to all cultures 9 years of formal assessment improves
course Cost and time effective and self sustaining Administratively
independent & local standards Plan to fail contingencies ensure
ongoing class
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OUR OUTCOMES Increased intercultural communication skill.
Increased intercultural awareness and competency. Increased
participation in international programming. Self-awareness,
confidence, personal growth, maturity, leadership, critical
thinking, inquisitiveness.
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Table 1: Pre- Post Course Differences Items Mean PrePost
Getting to know someone of another culture is an uncomfortable
experience for me 1.951.82 I enjoy making friends with people who
are different from me 4.204.31 I am interested in learning more
about other countries and cultures 4.104.32 I am interested in
teaching others about my country and culture 4.314.40 Scale: 1:
Strongly Disagree; 2: Disagree; 3 Neither agree or Disagree; 4:
Agree; 5: Strongly Agree
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Table 2: Post Course Student Opinion ItemsMean Std. Dev I
enjoyed the interaction with our international partners this
semester4.53.660 I would like to visit one or more of the countries
we linked with4.28.843 A year from now I think I will still be in
contact with some of the international partners I met this semester
3.231.033 This course has challenged me to learn new things about
myself and my culture 3.94.825 I am satisfied with experience in
this course4.32.584 I would participate in a course with a similar
format again4.32.705 I would recommend this course to my
friends4.47.638 Scale: 1: Strongly Disagree; 2: Disagree; 3 Neither
agree or Disagree; 4: Agree; 5: Strongly Agree
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Challenges? Communication Comprehension Accents Meaning Timing
Semester Schedule Time Zones Different Academic Goals Different
Standards Technology Access Proficiency TECHNOLOGY FAILS!
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Technical Technical Support Provided for Each Interaction
Server and Wiki Maintenance and Troubleshooting Administrative GU
Classes: Master Scheduling, Maintaining the Core, Partner
Evaluation, Program Assessment Other GAI Activities: Coordinating
Teaching Resource Development Training / Hand-Holding Support
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Things to Think About Where does this fit within your
University / Program? How will you get / provide support? How will
you get participants? What tools can you use? Are you willing to
work in an uncertain environment?
