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Intercultural Teaching and Learning

in a PBL EnvironmentLars Peter Jensen, Xiangyun Du

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Overview

Culture Intercultural issues at international

programs Reflection and discussions

Meeting cultures – Cultural shockwhat are the challenges entering a new

culture?

Coming to DK – Sweden to learn

innovative ways…

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I don’t

understand

the lecturer

What on earththe supervisor wanted

me to do?

So difficult to do a project in group work!

I am Depressed!

Things that have been taken for granted in one culture might be unknown in

another• Parents

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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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ME

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WAYS OF LIFE

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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 contextIntercultural 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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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