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Intercultural Teaching and Learning
in a PBL EnvironmentLars Peter Jensen, Xiangyun Du
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Overview Overview
CultureCulture Intercultural issues at international Intercultural issues at international
programsprograms Reflection and discussions Reflection and discussions
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The perfect European
is ….
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East vs. West - Cultural Differencescomparison of Western and Asian culture in the eyes of a
Chinese raised in Germany.
http://www.socialhallucinations.com/2008/11/east-vs-west---cultural-differences-in-pictures.html
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PARTY
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TRENDS
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STREET AT WEEKEND
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SHOWER TIME
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QUEUING
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You are so big. You can not stay here! Come back when you become smaller!
What are the most surprising experiences you have had with in an intercultural context?
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Globalized context
Intercultural competencies for future engineers
Diverse capabilities
Lifelong learning
Project management
Social, environmental, and
ethical concerns
Effective communication
Designing and conducting
experiments
- National Academy of Engineering, The Engineer of 2020, 2004- EUR-ACE (Accreditation of European Engineering Programmes and Graduates, http://www.feani.org/EUR_ACE/EUR_ACE_Main_Page.htm - ABET: http://www.abet.org/
Identity and solve applied science
problems
Team work
Application of mathematics and
science knowledge
Analytical skills
Interdisciplinary knowledge
Intercultural competencies
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Engineering programs are no longer just dominated by native young men.
Increase of diversity
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Potential advantages from
international programs at AAU
• New experiences and eye-opener
• Development of process competencies
• Development of intercultural competencies
• Prepare to become a global professional
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Challenges and identified problems 1
• Miscommunication arises due to
– Use of second language (English) as a means of communication
– Learning and working styles – Personality
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Challenges and identified problems 2Different beliefs on/ways of learning
– different expectations
Opinions?
Educational background
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Challenges and identified problems 2Different beliefs on/ ways of learning
Nobody knows the exact answers until the project is finished
Students are responsible for managing their own learning
Learners are creating new knowledge
Studying in a PBL environment, Denmark
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Challenges and identified problems 3Can group work be an efficient way of learning?
YES, we can meet at 8 tomorrow
morning
NO, I can’t get up anyway
Will they believe me
because I am a girl??
Listen to me, I am very
experienced
If we don’t follow the
supervisor’s suggestion, will he allow us to pass?
They don’t understand even
such easy things!!
It is my turn to talk?
He complains of my garlic, but he has coffee and carrots all the
time!!!
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`I have never worked in a group in my educational life… In group work, I preferred to listen when some students discussed intensely, because I could not understand why it was a question to discuss. Sometimes I could not follow their ideas or thinking. I need to change and actively work in the group.´ (Chinese female master student)
Student’s reflection
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Learning story a group of international students in AAU
‘I extended my exchange duration so that I could finish my whole master education here, because I really like this way – it fits into my way of learning’
‘In my home country, we got so heavy schedule every day. I guess they want us to be good at everything, but I felt that I was good at nothing, here I learned because I am interested.’
Taiwanese –Canadian‘It is a serious responsibility I have when working on a project from a company, at the end it is a wonderful feeling when seeing our product…’
‘I am told that graduates from AAU are just popular with many companies in Europe, because we have the needed skills.’
‘Before, when I sat in the classroom, I was thinking about going home as soon as possible. When working on project now, I get so interested that I just want to stay in the project room.’
‘It is really good to learn from each other and gain team work skills, it is what is needed, engineering work can’t be done by individuals…’
All‘Supervisor is one of our resources, we take what is useful from him’
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Facilitative activities
Project organized Learning Courses
as a means of facilitation
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Is ethnicity the only reason thatmakes us different?
Muslim
Philosopher
Animaldoctor
Young girl
butcher
artistwolf
farmer
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Engineering culture – engineer study
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Engineering culture – engineer study
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Is culture something
we are born with?
(Jensen 2005:18)
’I got culture from mom’s breast breeding’
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PBL in International programs, AAU, DenmarkDifferent backgrounds in educational culture
Cultural reflections
Doing PBL in ‘the right’ way!
A new culture to be established
Root of PBL in DK- Tradition of group work in Denmark - Critical thinking - Emphasis on - Collaboration and participation - Lower power gap - Close link between industry and university
