Despite evidence of the role cultural norms play in shaping learning processes, culture is rarely considered in the design of online courses. This disproportionately affects international students. Learn about competencies that will help instructors create inclusive online courses, which I developed with the input of 30 experts in the field.
Have you considered the role your own cultural background plays in how you approach learning, teaching or instructional design? If you haven’t given much thought to it in the past, you are not alone.
The accessibility and portability of digital media has allowed learners from around the world to participate in U.S. higher education in ways that were unthinkable even two decades ago (that’s good news!). However, these evolutions in diversity have not seen parallel transformations in how online learning is conceived and created (that’s bad news). Despite evidence of the role cultural norms play in shaping learning processes, culture is rarely considered in the design and facilitation of online courses.
This can have a negative impact on learners, and often affects international students in disproportionate ways. For example, language barriers can be exacerbated online. The lack of visual cues and body language can make communication challenging and the heavily text-based nature of interactions makes them more time consuming and cognitively demanding. When instructors do not recognize the additional challenges their international students face online, they may unfairly assume the students are not as smart or capable as others. The resulting tension can inhibit learning and leave both students and instructors frustrated.
The increasing cultural and national diversity of students within online higher education spaces requires courses that are designed with cultural inclusiveness in mind. Cultural inclusion means that designers and instructors think about how their own cultural backgrounds influence how and what they design and teach, and try to understand and bridge differences between themselves and the learners.
My research is focused on how to mitigate learning barriers caused by cultural differences.
In this session, I will share findings from my dissertation research in which I explored what university instructors need to know, believe and be able to do in order to create culturally inclusive online courses for international students. To answer this question, I solicited input from 30 experts in online learning, culturally responsive pedagogy / cultural competence, or international education. Using a series of questionnaires, I progressively build consensus around what the necessary competencies are. I have distilled these findings into the “top 5” knowledge, attitudes and skills that experts agree are essential to promoting cultural inclusion in online courses.
Are you an instructor, trainer or instructional designer? The resulting list of knowledge, attitudes and skills can help you create more inclusive courses and learning events. As you begin to apply them, you will likely find yourself becoming more attuned to diverse perspectives and increasingly effective at communicating with global audiences.
Are you a campus administrator or someone who supports instruction? These findings can help you provide better resources and professional development opportunities for your institutions.
Ultimately, the goal of this research is to help us all become more aware of the influential role culture plays in learning and to be able to ensure students from all backgrounds feel welcome, engaged, and successful in their online learning.