Is Culture Shock a Factor in Online Learning Too?
Posted on April 9, 2008 by David Gray
As most everyone knows by know, we have embarked on a great adventure, and a most important mission, to offer UMassOnline courses of study to Chinese students. It was a long, careful, and highly educational process to achieve this opportunity of becoming the first foreign university in line to win Ministry of Education approval for our distance learning offerings. But, in many respects, perceiving the long-term potential and concluding the cooperation agreement with our Chinese partners was the easy part. The effort ahead in bringing the agreement to life seems much greater, and still more important, than anything we have yet accomplished.
One important factor that comes immediately to mind – and of which I have been reminded during each of my two major visits to China – is that our respective cultures are quite different. I find myself wondering, maybe even worrying a little, if we need to do things better or differently to make the cultural transition to US-style higher-education easier and more seamless for the students in China who will begin enrolling in our courses by this fall.
To that end, I found this site online, co-sponsored by NAFSA, an association of international educators. Called Pre-departure Orientation for Chinese Students, it is intended to prepare learners who will actually come to America from China to attend college. But if you drill down, you’ll find this chart which lists and compares major differences in Chinese and American attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions. I found it fascinating and am wondering if you agree, disagree, or have any additional points you feel should be added to make this a better or more comprehensive overview? Also, for UMassOnline faculty, does this, if accurate and comprehensive, suggest we should modify our approach and teaching methodologies to adjust for these important cultural factors?
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I’ve just finished re-reading a copy of Marco Polo’s memoirs recounting his historic trip to China. The copy that I read was a facsimile of the one kept by Christopher Columbus.
Columbus clearly understood the significance of Polo’s 20 year journey to the east. In the margins of Polo’s book held by Columbus, the Genoese sailor made scores of notations. One of the notes stands out: “meracciones innumeras,” literally meaning an incalculable amount of trade.
Columbus never found the Middle Kingdom, but his interest in China helped him discover the New World.
Reading David Gray’s commentary, fresh from his trip to China, reminds me that we are still the New World and China is still an ancient kingdom.
Contemplating the possibilities of exchanging knowledge with China is exciting. Using advanced distance learning techniques to accomplish this goal may achieve the prediction made 500 years ago of setting the stage for an incalculable amount of trade and ideas.
The future is bright and distance learning is our vessel to the Middle Kingdom.
Sincerely,
Art Clifford