Investigating the Impact of Cultural Heritage Exploration on Preservice Teachers' Intercultural Sensitivity

• In Event: Moscone Center West Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: Mixed Realities in Preservice Teacher Education: Forwarding Inquiry With Technology

Abstract

The purpose of this proposal is to present a mixed methods study examining the impact of a semester long cultural heritage exploration on preservice teacher candidates’ intercultural sensitivity through a graduate level online course in teacher education. Participants’ intercultural sensibility was measured through a pre- and post-survey and students’ responses to discussion forums on culturally sensitive topics. In addition to the quantitative data analysis, a team-based approach to content analysis was applied. Results suggested that teacher candidates were becoming more open-minded, more responsive, and more active in taking actions although their intercultural competence still needs to be improved. The message from this study is that cultural heritage exploration can be an ongoing project that runs through one’s professional development.

Author

• Yaoying Xu, Virginia Commonwealth University