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Contact Information

Phone: (865) 974-9670
Fax: (865) 974-2842
Email: etc@itc.tennessee.edu

Address:
James D. Hoskins Library
1400 West Cumberland
Knoxville, TN 37996.0520








Project RITE

Recipients

Psychology Study Abroad Community

Jerri Yates

Lecturer, Psychology, UT Knoxville

Richard Saudargas

Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Psychology, UT Knoxville

Overview

Both the University's Ready for the World goals and options such as Faculty-led abroad programs provide students with the motivation and opportunity to study abroad and gain competence in global learning. In many cases, however, students' involvement in learning about and transitioning into such programs has been limited to face-to-face interaction in a group meeting and at sponsored study abroad fairs, as well as informational static posters on campus and online, and brief independent email exchange with faculty. Faculty, on the other hand, may be limited in the time they can spend with each student interested in learning about a course, which takes on greater meaning when including travel, foreign cultures, and other considerations pertinent to a Faculty-led abroad course. Communication in the early stages of investigation and feedback can be enhanced by using technology such as synchronous collaboration tools. Similarly, year-to-year communication for an ongoing course abroad and from post to pre-study abroad students can be limited by graduations, faculty transitions, and other location challenges as well as lack of data and experience capture. An ongoing online community is a promising possibility to facilitate the continued success of approaches to global learning such as the Faculty-led abroad program.

This proposal seeks funding to evaluate technological methods of attracting, informing, facilitating and engaging student participation and enhanced learning for study abroad and transfer of experience post return in faculty-led programs abroad. While the proposal is limited in scope to one course and a small sample, the pilot data gathered may provide a template for other faculty and programs in the future, particularly for new Faculty-led abroad programs in their formative stages. In addition, the potential to extend the community as an ongoing support system for past to future students' enhanced experiences is another possible long-term benefit.