Exploring exchange students’ global minds in a study abroad project

Esko Johnson; Heeok Heo; Klaus Reich; Irja Leppisaari; Okwha Lee

doi:10.36923/jicc.v15i2.695

Open Access Article Education

Esko Johnson ⁽¹⁾ , Heeok Heo ⁽²⁾ , Klaus Reich ⁽³⁾ , Irja Leppisaari ⁽⁴⁾ , Okwha Lee ⁽⁵⁾

1. Centria University of Applied Sciences, Kokkola, Finland

2. Sunchon National University, Korea

3. University of Innsbruck, Austria

4. Centria University of Applied Sciences, Finland

5. Chungbuk National University, Korea

https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v15i2.695

Issue
Vol. 15 No. 2 (2015)

Submitted
2012 September 27

Published
2015 July 10

Keywords:

international exchange project, study abroad, global minds, global education, qualitative approach

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Abstract

This study was conducted in the context of an international exchange project which introduced the participating students to curricular and instructional aspects of global education and to the diversity of school systems. The aim of the research was to investigate how the exchange students constructed and re-constructed their cultural and intercultural skills, knowledge, beliefs, and identities. The research data were collected using interviews, an online survey, and students’ messages posted on a Facebook group. Semi-structured interviewing was used as a major data gathering method as this made it possible to better explore the extent and qualities of the students’ sense-making and learning about their exchange experience. Six themes emerged indicating that the exchange students used a range of approaches to interact and communicate with people to gain intercultural perspectives. They made sense of educational systems, and developed their selfhood and social identities in a framework of negative and positive experiences.

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Authors

Esko Johnson

Heeok Heo

hoheo@sunchon.ac.kr (Primary Contact)

Klaus Reich

Irja Leppisaari

Okwha Lee

Author Biographies

Esko Johnson

Esko JOHNSON, PhD (Education) was formerly employed as lecturer of English Language and Communication at Centria University of Applied Sciences, Finland. In addition to teaching English for academic and technology purposes, he designed and taught courses for intercultural education at his university. Dr Johnson’s research interests include intercultural adaptation and learning as well as teacher development. His autobiographical PhD study, which he defended at the University of Eastern Finland in 2011, explored the development of a language teacher’s professional identity, skills, and knowledge in the changing context of work

Heeok Heo

Dr. Heeok HEO is professor in the Department of Computer Education at Sunchon National University, South Korea. Her primary interests are teaching and learning theories in technology-based environments, the development of e-Learning environments, and teacher education on ICT use and global education. Professor Heo’s major research topics have ranged from philosophical conceptualizations of learning experiences via advanced technologies in K-12 education to designing advanced learning models in higher education.

Klaus Reich

Klaus REICH is teacher education coordinator at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. He specialises in teacher education and in e-learning, including e-accessibility and usability, barrier-free web design and evaluation. He calls on intense project and management experience in these fields in both university and independent research center environments.

Irja Leppisaari

Irja LEPPISAARI PhD (Ed) is principal lecturer of online pedagogy at Averko eLearning Centre administered by the Centria University of Applied Sciences, Finland. Her post-doctoral research focuses especially on authentic e-learning and e-mentoring, and continuing professional development. Her most recent research projects aim to create education models for e-learning which promote working life cooperation as well as create new forms of multicultural e-learning practices. She has published altogether 80 articles, half of which are published in refereed international scientific edited volumes and in refereed international scientific conference proceedings.

Okwha Lee

Dr Okhwa LEE is professor for Educational Technology at the Department of Education, Chungbuk National University. Her academic interests are educational innovation with technology support. Dr Lee has served on three President’s committees including the committee for educational reform. She was the chairperson for the Korean Association for Educational Information and Media. She runs a social enterprise, after school company, “Smart School” and the educational research institute at Chungbuk National University.

Johnson, E., Heo, H., Reich, K., Leppisaari, I., & Lee, O. (2015). Exploring exchange students’ global minds in a study abroad project. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 15(2), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v15i2.695

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