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Bring Back Pen Pals: International Group Work for Sustainable
Development
Katherine Haxton & Richard [email protected] @kjhaxton
July 2016
Year 1/Level 3 (NXU)
Year 2/Level 4 (NXU)• 4 bridging modules: 3 'in person', 1 distance
Year 3/Level 5 (NXU)• 4 bridging modules, 3 'in person', 1 distance
Year 4/Level 6 (KU)• 120 credits , 15 credits EFAP
Sustainable Chemistry
Module
Personal Care
Health Care
Food Security
Water Security
Energy
Future Chemistry
Module DesignKeele University (KU)
[face-to-face]
- 12 x 2 hour workshops
- 5 online tasks (35%) - 2 essays (50%) - 1 magazine (15%)
Nanjing XiaoZhuang University (NXU)[distance]
- 10 topics
- 5 online tasks (30%)- 1 essay (50%)- 1 video (20%)
International Group Work37 NXU, 59 KU students in groups of 4 – 6.
Suggestions for topics made but deliberately vague.
Identical assessment guidelines, slightly different submission.
3 weeks to do task (later extended).
Fairly low stakes: 10% of module. Sufficient to get engagement.
General assessment criteria based on engagement with task.
EngagementKU: 48/59 students submitted
NXU: 34/37 students submitted
“I didn’t like this task!! Because the Keele students didn't email me more!!!” - NXU
“The assignment was completely pointless as nobody from China replied.” - KU Student
Emails on deadline dayThe Chinese Students haven’t responded to
my email
When did you send it?
Last night *&%$£
“The main surprise was the time difference between the 2 countries as it was about 8 hours meaning that the conversations were often stop start, which was weird to me as at first it didn’t really click to me that I was speaking to people half way around the world about the same chemistry course from the same lecturers.”
NXU PerspectiveVery difficult to ‘get in touch’
- issues with accessing Keele email accountsSome very successful interactions - students who signed up for WeChatGeneral internet issues
“Be more nice and open, don't be shy, be willing to chat to others.”
“It's already very good. It's interesting. The problem is some of the students in my group didn't talk with each other.”
strongly disagree
disagree neutral agree strongly agree
0
10
20
30
40
NXU: Emailing the Keele Students was Interesting
% re
spon
se
strongly disagree
disagree neutral agree strongly agree
01020304050
KU: Most of my group responded to emails.
% re
spon
se
KU Perspective
“It was nice to converse with the Chinese students and to find out about how another culture tackles sustainability.”
“I feel that the assignment was too dependent on the Chinses students responding to our emails.”
“I'd just like to say how nice it was that Xinyu was so enthusiastic about talking to people from another country and it was a pleasure talking to him, he even told me his favourite actor is Daniel Craig.”
KU Perspective“The language barrier was hard to overcome, not that I can speak any Chinese but it made it hard to ask and have answered in depth question.”
“The fluency of my groups English is astounding, rarely did we have a communication barrier due to language. Also, the Teletubbies are very popular in China!
strongly disagree
disagree neutral agree strongly agree
0
10
20
30
40
KU: I will keep in touch with Chinese students from my group.
% re
spon
se 9 students
KU Topics of Conversation
ReflectionsThis task rewards students who are engaged and: - organised (emailing well in advance of deadlines) - curious (willing to learn from one another) - open (not deterred by language or cultural barriers)This task is harsh on students who: - leave things to the last minute - are reluctant to engage fully, ask questions, be curious - dislike social activities and prefer solitary research
