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ERIC Number: EJ1072497
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Oct
Pages: 28
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1387-1579
EISSN: N/A
Addressing Cultural Diversity: Effects of a Problem-Based Intercultural Learning Unit
Busse, Vera; Krause, Ulrike-Marie
Learning Environments Research, v18 n3 p425-452 Oct 2015
This article explores to what extent a problem-based learning unit in combination with cooperative learning and affectively oriented teaching methods facilitates intercultural learning. As part of the study, students reflected on critical incidents, which display misunderstandings or conflicts that arise as a result of cultural differences. In dealing with these cases, students were encouraged to reflect on their own cognitive and affective processes (such as categorisation and judgement) in order to become aware that thoughts, emotions and actions are socially and culturally influenced. Students devised strategies to handle the situations depicted. Participants were young adult learners (N = 40). Students in the experimental group were compared with a control group, which received regular intercultural learning classes. Results indicated that the intervention supported learning and the cooperative learning situations in combination with the affectively oriented teaching methods stimulated intercultural learning processes. However, the analysis also revealed the limitations of short-term interventions in tackling the motivational and attitudinal dimension of student learning, therefore hinting at the need for long-term projects in order to sustain a lasting positive approach to cultural diversity.
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A