OVERVIEW

In a globally connected world, teachers need to know how to instruct students in intercultural rhetoric. The Cross-Cultural Rhetoric Project, funded by a grant from the Wallenberg Global Learning Network, has designed, implemented, and assessed a curriculum devoted to the development of intercultural competencies through collaboration and effective use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). The project's overarching goal is to build meta-knowledge about the critical role that intercultural competence can play in global communication and international relations.

During the 2006-2007 academic year, the research team designed curricular materials designed to foster intercultural competencies among student participants. Students at Örebro University, Sweden, and Stanford University, U.S.A., used these tools to work in globally distributed teams, presenting research to international audiences and exchanging reflections through innovative use of ICTs. In addition, the CCR instructional team constructed a digital portfolio of materials based on the student collaboration, delivered several presentations on its research, and hosted an International Symposium. The team continues to assess study outcomes and prepare manuscripts for publication documenting globally distributed team collaboration and identifying best practices and technology investments for future collaborations.

In the 2007-2008 academic year, the Cross-Cultural Rhetoric project will expand to include participants from Australia and Singapore in its class-to-class virtual connections and will continue to explore ways in which to use ICTs and cross-cultural communication to foster positive social change.