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Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

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nationalize their undergraduate and graduate programs. F<strong>in</strong>ally, the survey exploresthe teach<strong>in</strong>g methods of faculty and their support for global learn<strong>in</strong>g outcomes.The ACE <strong>in</strong>itiative rests upon the assertion that <strong>in</strong>ternationalization is necessaryto prepare students for life, work, and citizenship <strong>in</strong> a globalized modern economy.In the second project, we are directly address<strong>in</strong>g this challenge by creat<strong>in</strong>g materialsfor an <strong>in</strong>ternationalized curriculum <strong>in</strong> geography.Onl<strong>in</strong>e center for global geography educationThe Onl<strong>in</strong>e Center for Global <strong>Geography</strong> <strong>Education</strong> is produc<strong>in</strong>g a series of coursemodules to enhance the teach<strong>in</strong>g and learn<strong>in</strong>g of global geography. The Center ispartially funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and is be<strong>in</strong>g developedwith the full support and <strong>in</strong>volvement of the Association of American Geographers,Grosvenor Center for Geographic <strong>Education</strong>, International GeographicalUnion, International <strong>Network</strong> for Learn<strong>in</strong>g and Teach<strong>in</strong>g, and National Council forGeographic <strong>Education</strong>. The project aims to <strong>in</strong>ternationalize teach<strong>in</strong>g and learn<strong>in</strong>gby provid<strong>in</strong>g geographers with the materials, technology, tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, and technicalsupport they need to start their own <strong>in</strong>ternational teach<strong>in</strong>g projects.The Center currently offers three prototype modules: Population, Global Economy,and Nationalism. An early prototype, Migration, is also available for review. Eachmodule is a self-conta<strong>in</strong>ed, collaborative learn<strong>in</strong>g environment featur<strong>in</strong>g lessonsthat engage students <strong>in</strong> collaborative projects, promote understand<strong>in</strong>g of geographicconcepts, provide practice us<strong>in</strong>g geographic skills, and deepen awareness of <strong>in</strong>ternationalperspectives about contemporary global issues. Important geographicconcepts and skills are illustrated through data, case studies, and animations draw<strong>in</strong>gon the AAG’s Activities and Read<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> the <strong>Geography</strong> of the World (ARGWorld)project. The modules support onl<strong>in</strong>e collaboration us<strong>in</strong>g Blackboard, a softwareplatform support<strong>in</strong>g e-learn<strong>in</strong>g. To enable broader dissem<strong>in</strong>ation, the modules willbe published <strong>in</strong> English and Spanish.The project <strong>in</strong>cludes a research and evaluation component to <strong>in</strong>vestigate studentlearn<strong>in</strong>g outcomes and faculty attitudes toward <strong>in</strong>ternationalization <strong>in</strong> highereducation.For students, key learn<strong>in</strong>g objectives <strong>in</strong>clude (a) the ability to use the <strong>in</strong>formation,methods, and concepts of geography to exam<strong>in</strong>e global issues; (b) know<strong>in</strong>g how touse Internet technology for effective learn<strong>in</strong>g and collaboration; (c) be<strong>in</strong>g able toformulate and carry out strategies for ask<strong>in</strong>g and answer<strong>in</strong>g geographic questions <strong>in</strong>an <strong>in</strong>ternational team; and (d) greater <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> the study of geography and appreciationfor its perspectives on global issues. Expectations are that student learn<strong>in</strong>gand <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> global geography will be enhanced through onl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong>teractions withpeers and experts <strong>in</strong> different world regions.The modules are currently be<strong>in</strong>g tested by faculty <strong>in</strong> several countries toconsider what teach<strong>in</strong>g methods and technologies promote the abilities of <strong>in</strong>ternationalstudents engaged <strong>in</strong> onl<strong>in</strong>e collaborative learn<strong>in</strong>g. Research has shown thatcollaborative learn<strong>in</strong>g can improve academic achievement and even promote crossculturalunderstand<strong>in</strong>g and goodwill (Bruffee 1993; Calvani, Sorzio, and Varisco214

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