SYNERGIZED PEDAGOGY THROUGH INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

Objective(s) of Presentation: Participants will: (1) investigate international travel as an innovative and engaging pedagogical approach; (2) identify critical components of an international travel course; (3) highlight an international project conducted in China; (4) compare education in Hong Kong to education in the United States; (5) describe the benefits of international travel in course learning activities; and (6) view sample visual essays created by students investigating global issues in education.

This session presents international travel in a university course as an innovative and engaging pedagogical approach to new learning. The session discusses characteristics of global issues and how international travel can be used to support student learner outcomes in a university program. The presentation outlines procedures for organizing an international travel course and describes critical components of a travel course recently conducted in China. The session describes effective student learner outcomes, relevant activities and assignments, and appropriate grading criteria for travel activities. Visual essays investigating global issues and constructed by students using data collected from Hong Kong will be presented. Education in Hong Kong will be compared to education in the United States in areas such as technology, student discipline, curriculum, materials, facilities, and scheduling. Teacher training and diverse roles will also be discussed. Student journals and reflections on international travel will be shared.