Description

Participants will introduce themselves to one another through a wordle visualization based on key words and then take a self-assessment of their own cultural intelligence. As a follow-up reflection, participants are invited to share experiences and ideas related to how students can understand and feel positive about their own names and diverse identities. Reference to Richard Bucher's Cultural Intelligence (CQ) 9 Megaskills will support further sharing on how to cultivate one of the Megaskills identified.

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Task

Step 1 - Me in a Wordle: As your course instructor, I have prepared a short video introduction and wordle as part of my introduction to you!

Go to www.wordle.net and click ‘create your own’. Add your name (first, middle, last) along with any preferred nick-names and a list of at least 5 other words that you would use to describe you and/or the meaning of your name. Take a screenshot image and save the file to upload into the gallery of our virtual classroom. (NOTE: if you are looking for a more graphical visualization, you can create a wordle at: http://www.tagxedo.com/)

Step 2 - Discussion Question: Have you witnessed instances of bullying where students have been teased or mocked for their name? In your view, how can we best support students in understanding and feeling positive about their own names as and diverse identities?  Please post you response in our Discussion Forum!

Step 3 - Self Assessment: Take a free sample test created by Richard Bucher to better understand how you see yourself when it comes to cultural intelligence. 

Review each quadrant in the Four Levels of Cultural Awareness by the Centre for Intercultural Learning and identify where you would place your own level 

Review ‘A Profile of an Interculturally Effective Person’ by the Centre for Intercultural Learning for further detail on behavioural indicators of an Interculturally Effective Person (IEP)

• Adaptation Skills
• An attitude of modesty and respect
• An understanding of the concept of culture
• Knowledge of the host country and culture
• Relationship building
• Self-Knowledge
• Intercultural communication
• Organizational skills
• Personal and professional commitment

Step 4 - Sharing your experience in a blog post: Review the following summary of Richard Bucher’s Cultural Intelligence (CQ) 9 Megaskills.  http://hpcatalyst.tiged.org/intercultural/blogs/

• Understanding my cultural identity - looking inward and understanding our own thoughts, biases, behaviors and cultural identity.
• Checking cultural lenses - recognizing the ways in which cultural backgrounds differ and how they influence thinking, behavior and assumptions.
• Global consciousness - moving across boundaries and seeing the world from multiple perspectives.
• Shifting perspectives - putting ourselves in someone else's shoes and someone else's culture.
• Intercultural communication - exchanging ideas and feelings and creating meanings with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Managing cross-cultural conflict – the ability to deal with conflict among people from differing cultural backgrounds in an effective and constructive manner.
• Multicultural teaming – working with others from diverse cultural backgrounds to accomplish certain tasks
• Dealing with bias – recognizing bias in ourselves and others and dealing with it effectively
• Understanding the dynamics of power – grasping how power and culture interrelate and the effect of power on how we see the world and relate to others.

Select one and share an example of how you have helped to cultivate this skill among a group of students in your experience as an educator thus far by posting a blog in our virtual classroom space.

Step 5: Submit reflections on Activity One in your HP Catalyst Academy profile.

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Continue to Activity 2: Spotting Images of Intercultural Exchange »