dc.contributor.author | Heckman, Angela | eng |
dc.contributor.corporatename | University of Missouri-Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research | eng |
dc.contributor.meetingname | Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum (2004 : University of Missouri--Columbia) | eng |
dc.date.issued | 2004 | eng |
dc.description | Abstract only available | eng |
dc.description | Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sandy Matsuda, Occupational Therapy | eng |
dc.description.abstract | This study examined changes in students' cultural perceptions following learning exchanges between international and U.S. students. The goals of the exchanges were to improve communication skills of international students before they become teaching assistants and to teach occupational therapy students to work with people of other cultures more effectively. Another goal was for students to experience the research process as part of their class work. In order to measure the impact of the exchanges, we asked ourselves the following questions: 1. Will students' see themselves as better able to adapt after learning exchanges with students from other countries? 2. Are changes related to travel in other countries? 3. What value do the learning exchanges have for students? We know that experiential learning activities and having students teach one another are two strategies for enhancing learning. We also know that positive contact between people of equal status (student-to-student) is one of the primary conditions for improving cultural competency. Finally, team-teaching and linking courses can enhance learning in related fields. We combined these three ideas by linking students in a graduate course for international teaching assistants with a professional communications course for occupational therapy students. Methods: Students gave their views before and after 5 experiential learning activities, which included social exchanges, conversation hours, interviews, microteaching, a ropes course, and role-playing. The study included 39 teaching assistant students from other countries and 47 students from a health field. All students completed a questionnaire and took a pre- and post- Cross Cultural Adaptability Inventory (CCAI) on their views of being able to adapt to other cultures. Occupational therapy students also completed journals. Themes were drawn from their answers to capture the meaning of the experience. Quantitative data was analyzed via a t-test for paired comparisons. A constant comparative method was used to analyze the qualitative data. Results: 1) After students completed shared experiential learning activities, there was a positive change between the pre and post test scores on the CCAI (p < .0001; N=86). 2) Differences emerged when participants were stratified into three sub-groups: international students, U.S. students with international travel experience, and U.S. students without international travel experience. | eng |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10355/622 | eng |
dc.publisher | University of Missouri--Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research | eng |
dc.relation.ispartof | 2004 Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum (MU) | eng |
dc.relation.ispartofcommunity | University of Missouri-Columbia. Office of Undergraduate Research. Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievements Forum | eng |
dc.source.uri | http://undergradresearch.missouri.edu/forums-conferences/abstracts/abstract-detail.php?abstractid=94 | eng |
dc.subject | cultural perceptions | eng |
dc.subject | communication skills | eng |
dc.subject | experiential learning activities | eng |
dc.subject | team-teaching | eng |
dc.title | Improving communication between international and U.S. students at MU [abstract] | eng |
dc.type | Abstract | eng |