Using Canvas Discussions to foster intercultural conversations

Using Canvas Discussions to foster intercultural conversations

By Anne Tuominen, Lindsay Custer, Brandy LongSenior Assoc. Faculty (Sociology), Full-time Faculty (Sociology), Asst. Director of eLearningCascadia CollegeBuilding a HOW to do this?Through organized study abroadThrough engaging students private experiences abroadThrough cross-cultural online conversations, the COIL model (Collaborative Online International Learning):Between students in two different societiesBetween domestic and international students

Crosscultural bridgeCollaboration between Japan Womens University and Cascadia College

Considerations for the cultural online exchangeUse Canvas, since U.S. students already in a Canvas course Choose topic that was familiar to the Japanese students as the discussion would be in EnglishInclude opportunity to share both visual images and discussionStructure discussion pointsModel the exchange exercise with the two professors

The conversation topic Borrowing Cultural Symbols

Structuring the assignmentTechnological set-upCreate new section in US Canvas courseManually add 113 foreign student names and emailsSIS Import featureManual adjustmentsLocking quizzes and sensitive course items

Creating new accounts and using SIS import

Two choices: how to add the students to the course

Canvas course roster, with section for Japanese students

Professors model the exchange

Hi everyone! Im Lindsay Custerin Tokyo, Japan..The Japanese have borrowed many Western holidays including Christmas, HalloweenHi Professor Custer and studentsIm Anne Tuominenat Cascadia CollegeWhat I see in Prof. Custers selected images is a mixing of cultural symbols.

Rich exchanges, despite the numbers and small glitchesResultsParticipation:4 active Japanese participants, out of 28 who ultimately accepted invitation to the course (113 invitations sent)16 out of 32 U.S. participants, including 2 International students

Problems:Bugs/glitch: Non US native computers some times have translation challenges in Canvas where files dont upload properly or lock when uploading. Files not in students accounts, so couldnt troubleshoot if it was Canvas or networkTime difference/linguistic differences created challenges in mediating problems

Hello,mynameisTina*, U.S. STUDENT, and I am a student at Cascadia College.I decided to use a photo that recently came across my Facebook feed (below). It is an appropriated by many Americans in today' society. Thephoto is basically making fun of the fact that Americans always get tattoos of Chinese words or quotes, yet the Chinese culture never gets tattoos of words or quotes in English.I thought this photo was interesting because I had never thought of using it as a reflection of appropriation in this class, but I believe that it is fitting.

*pseudonyms used in student examples

Hi Kimberly, Im Mariko Japanese student

Hi everybody, Im Lisa, U.S. student, The picture I chose for this was one of singer Kesha wearing a feathered headdress like those of the Native American culture would. .[It] is being appropriated in this example through United States pop culture.

Hi, Im Yuki, Japanese student, This is an example of Western style wedding in Japan..

Hi,mynameisCalvin, International Student at U.S. institution..and I am majoring in bussiness transfer in Cascadia. I really like your example. Honesty, I alwasy thought that pizza is orginal from US. I was quite shock that the pizza was from Italy. (italians alwasy made delicious food, no doubt.) I dont really expect that the US pizza is just a bigger version of Italy pizza. it more likely suit to be here. Everyoneaccetped this type of food. As same as many Asian restaurant, it is unfortunately that they lost their orgenal taste, but they have second chance to live in this land, serve.here, and amuse here. it is a great example, and reminded my a lot!! Thanks for share.

What did our Bridge accomplish?An online cultural exchange using a tool available in many institutionsIncreased access to cultural competency opportunities for community college students and womens university studentsA lively exchange of images and discussion between students across societies on a topic of sociological importanceAn opportunity for International Students in U.S. to participate in a conversation in English comfortably