Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

Geography Forum: Intercultural Learning OnlineMargaret C. KeaneSt Mary’s University College, 191 Falls Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT12 6FEe-mail: m.keane@stmarys-belfast.ac.ukAbstractThe growth in cultural diversity in most European countries and the increasing contactsbetween peoples from all over the world has heightened awareness of cultural difference. Ithas become evident that models of geographical education which emphasise ‘tolerance’ and‘respect’ are inadequate. Instead, there is a need to recognise difference and make sensibleuse of the knowledge acquired to deal with difference constructively. Intercultural learningaims to bring about a change in individual perceptions of the cultural practices of the ‘other’so as to learning to live and communicate effectively with people of other cultures. As ICTbegins to connect more geographically dispersed Geography Departments, the use of theonline discussion board is increasingly advanced as an accessible tool for interculturallearning. It is argued that it has the potential to act as the forum for communication withcounterparts from culturally dissimilar backgrounds since it can overcome constraints ofspace and time. This paper assesses the effectiveness of discussion boards for interculturallearning and considers issues of communication, student interaction, team working and therole played by verbal and non-verbal behavioural indicators.Key words: Geography,discussion boards, ICT, university, teaching,, cultural diversity,intercultural education, online learningIntroductionIn a world being re-shaped by knowledge technologies which are impervious to politicalboundaries, young people are living in the conscious presence of cultural differenceyet cultural and national identities still maintain their significance. Racism andxenophobia suggest a lack of understanding of the pace of change while employersincreasingly seek candidates who are able to cross cultural divides in the workplace.This paper assesses the effectiveness of computer-based Discussion Boards throughgeography activities for building intercultural competence, an indispensable goal ofgeographical education today.From the 1970s, European universities have provided opportunities for geographystudents to study in culturally diverse settings. Since 1987, for example, the Socrates-Erasmus programme and other European programmes have widened the horizons ofthousands of students. Now virtual global classrooms are available to those with theright facilities. Discussion Boards are a powerful forum for geography students tolearn through dialogue and collaboration; they afford vital opportunities for moderateddebate on controversial topics and they are a convenient means of linkinggeographically dispersed students. Sensitivity to cultural diversity and improvedcritical thinking are just two of the outcomes which have been noted by Merryfield236