Session I: July 14-16, 2010

2. Teaching Intercultural Issues Online Judith Martin and Mary Meares Computer-mediated communication (CMC) is increasingly important to both educators who need to teach online and to students whose access to intercultural education is partially or entirely online. However, designing and teaching online about culture and intercultural communication present unique pedagogical challenges. This workshop explores the strategies and techniques that can improve teaching and learning in that online environment.

Designed for Objectives Learning Activities Judith Martin Mary Meares Educators who have taught intercultural topics and (a) want to develop competence in delivering intercultural courses online or (b) want to design online activities to accompany traditional courses. Participants will have the opportunity to: Explore how culture impacts computer-mediated communication (CMC) Identify unique characteristics of CMC Examine how teaching online differs from traditional classroom teaching Learn strategies for facilitating online discussions of intercultural issues Explore resources for online teaching activities (print, media, and Internet) Create online exercises (Internet, virtual teams, discussion boards) that promote intercultural learning and prepare students for interacting virtually with others in the contemporary work setting Identify assessment methods to evaluate online intercultural learning experiences This interactive course will include: Mini-lectures on state-of-the-art research on computer-mediated communication and online instruction Discussion of the challenges and benefits of teaching about culture online, as well as ways to overcome potential obstacles Small and large group discussions Peer exchange and sharing of best practices Exploration of resources Creative brainstorming and analysis of potential activities for students Simulated computer-mediated discussions followed by debriefing   Dr. Judith Martin is a Professor of Communication at Arizona State University in Tempe. She has also taught undergraduate and graduate courses in communication at the University of Minnesota, the Pennsylvania State University, and the University of New Mexico. Judith has published extensively in a variety of social science journals on intercultural communication competence, sojourner communication overseas, reentry, and ethnic identity. She also co-authored Students Abroad: Strangers at Home, summarizing research on the impacts of study abroad; Intercultural Communication in Contexts; Readings in Cultural Contexts; Experiencing Intercultural Communication; and Whiteness: The Communication of Social Identity.   Dr. Mary Meares is an assistant professor of communication studies at the University of Alabama. Mary has taught intercultural and organizational communication in the U.S. and Japan, and was named the Faculty Mentor of the Year at Washington State University. Mary has also consulted for educational, corporate, and public service organizations in the areas of intercultural transitions, team building, and conflict. Her research focuses on intercultural groups, virtual teams, diversity in the workplace, and perceptions of voice. She has facilitated virtual group projects with students from China, Japan, Russia, and the U.S. Mary also provides career counseling to participants at SIIC.