Advanced Placement Human Geography Students Blogging Cultural Experts for the Development of Intercultural Competence and Globality

• In Event: Roundtable Session 40
  In Roundtable Session: Technology and the Social Studies

Abstract

Advanced Placement (AP) teachers often report challenges engaging students with meaningful learning activities following the examination day, meaning the time between when the students write the AP exam and the conclusion of the school year. Using Byram’s (1997, 2000) guidelines to adapt measures for intercultural competence development and globality, this mixed-methods study focused on 16 secondary students in an AP Human Geography course. The students blogged cultural “experts” in Swaziland and Malaysia over a period of about two weeks following the AP exam. The blogs, pre- and post-treatment survey questions, and three qualitative questionnaires indicate positive effects on student learning and interest.

Authors

• Daniel W. Stuckart, Lehman College - CUNY

• Kenneth T. Carano, Western Oregon University