2022 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Examining the Academic Impact of an Active Learning-Based Study-Abroad Program
| Project/Area Number |
20K00871
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| Research Institution | Nanzan University |
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Principal Investigator |
DEACON Bradley 南山大学, 国際教養学部, 准教授 (10454406)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
MILES Richard 南山大学, 国際教養学部, 准教授 (90751602)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
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| Keywords | global-mindedness / intercultural competence / virtual exchange / short-term study abroad |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
I wrote a paper and made presentations a short-term study-abroad (STSA) program between a university in central Japan and a university in the south-west in the US. This study empirically assessed the impact of a six-week study-abroad program with the US university (conducted online as a virtual program due to the COVID-19 pandemic) on sophomore Japanese university students’ global-mindedness (GM). In addition, I presented on a study that examined the impact on the intercultural sensitivity of volunteer Thai university buddy partners who served as academic and cultural guides for eight visiting Japanese university students during a three-week study-abroad program in Thailand. Both of these studies were connected to educational contexts that promoted active learning-based pedagogical approaches.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
The original aim of this research was to examine the impact, including the effect and influence, of Active Learning-based programs on the academic ability of cohorts of students first in their home university context in central Japan, and then as they transition to the context of a required six-week study-abroad program at a US university. It has not been possible to examine this effect in the US because of COVID-19. Thus, this effect has been explored through a virtual mobility between a Japanese and US university, which has shown the impact on students' global-mindedness - a factor connecting to academic ability. Additionally, instruments measuring intercultural skills were used involving Japanese and Thai students to expand the scope of this research in an overseas Thai context.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
I plan to write an academic paper based on the research involving the intercultural instruments that was conducted in Thailand. I also plan to investigate the global-mindedness of Japanese university students, and other academically-related factors, which connect to active learning-infused programs (domestic and study-abroad). Since it is now possible for Japanese university students to study-abroad, rather than just do virtual mobility, I will now be able to investigate what changes, if any, that occur through actual participation in overseas programs. I plan to gather new data and to present and publish academic articles related to this research.
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| Causes of Carryover |
It has not been possible to complete the research plan that was originally intended due to the effects of COVID-19, which meant it was not possible to go overseas to gather data. However, from this year it will be possible to gather data overseas in study-abroad contexts, thus I would like to use research funds in the next year in order to cover expenses connected to data collection overseas.
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