Virtual Exchange: Preservice Teachers' Competencies for Global Awareness of Diversity

• In Event: Technology, Instruction, Cognition, Learning: A Survey of Research

Abstract

This study investigated the integration of an innovative instructional strategy-- the virtual exchange, to support the competencies of pre-service teachers for global diversity facilitated through educational technologies. The virtual exchange was between two universities: a large public university in the midwestern U.S., and a medium-sized public university in Turkey. For this study, data collected through pre-post surveys only from pre-service teachers (n=36) in the U.S is reported. Overall, the findings suggest that pre-service teachers learned valuable skills and competencies for global awareness of diversity. In addition, concerns related to time zone difference and data privacy practices were raised during the exchange. Implications for further research are also discussed.

Authors

• Nadia Jaramillo Cherrez, Oregon State University

• Benjamin William Gleason, Iowa State University