Strategies for Smooth and Effective Cross-Cultural Online Collaborative Learning

• Published in: Educational Technology ＆ Society Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 208 - 221
• Main Authors: Yang, Junfeng, Kinshuk, Yu, Huiju, Chen, Sue-Jen, Huang, Ronghuai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palmerston North International Forum of Educational Technology ＆ Society 01.07.2014; International Forum of Educational Technology & Society
• Subjects: China; Chinese culture; Collaboration; Collaborative learning; College Students; Colleges & universities; Communities of Practice; Content Analysis; Cooperative Learning; Cross Cultural Studies; Cultural Awareness; Cultural differences; Distance learning; Educational environment; Educational Strategies; Educational technology; Electronic Learning; Focus groups; Foreign Countries; Full Length Articles; Group Dynamics; Intercultural education; International Educational Exchange; Interpersonal Competence; Interpersonal Relationship; Interviews; Learning Experience; Learning Processes; Learning Strategies; Likert Scales; Management; Mixed Methods Research; Online Courses; Online education; Online instruction; Online learning; Prior Learning; Questionnaires; Research Methodology; Research methods; Social Attitudes; Social factors; Student Attitudes; Student Exchange Programs; Students; Technology application; United States; Web 2.0 Technologies; United States; China; Cross-cultural; Cultural awareness; Online learning; Collaborative learning; Collaborative skills
• ISSN: 1176-3647; 1436-4522; 1436-4522

As the communication between different cultures is becoming more and more frequent, the competence of cross-cultural awareness and collaboration is emerging as a key ability in the 21st century. Face to face communication is the most efficient way to cultivate the competence of cross-cultural awareness and collaboration. However, there are very few opportunities currently available for university students to have such face to face communication. Therefore, cross-cultural online collaborative learning utilizing web 2.0 technologies is proposed in this paper as a way to cultivate students' cross-cultural competence. The purpose of the study is therefore to elicit strategies for smooth and effective cross-cultural online collaborative learning through a pilot study between the West and the East. Students of a Chinese University and an American University took part in the study. A mixed method research approach using questionnaire, interview and content analysis was used. The findings of the study revealed that students from both sides were interested in each other's culture, their attitudes to cross-cultural online collaborative learning were positive, and culture had an influence on learning methods. Social interaction played an important role, and students preferred to have more prior knowledge of each other's cultures and backgrounds. They were also inclined towards more in-depth individual conversations. As a result of this study, several strategies are proposed to facilitate effective implementation of cross-cultural collaborative learning in typical higher education settings.