Cross-Cultural Project-Based Collaboration: A Comparison of Communication Patterns Between African and U.S. Students

• In Event: 21.036 - Embracing the Tension: Identity and Positionality in Diverse Educational Spaces in Africa and the Caribbean

Abstract

This case study provides an accounting of U.S. and African students from sub-Saharan countries engaged in a cross-cultural project-based learning activity in a higher education context. Work groups consisting of both U.S. based and African based students were formed for collaboration on a research methods project. Communication is an important element of group interactions and is especially important to consider when a group consists of members from different cultural groups. A post-modern stance was adopted to analyze the communication among the members within each group. Understanding the communication differences between cultures is important in promoting respectful cross-cultural collaboration.

Authors

• Kim D. MacGregor, Louisiana State University

• Irene S. Mbarika, ICT University