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PE-course Project Organised Learning

(POL)

Mm 3: Cross-cultural Team Building

Master of Science – Introductory Semester (E7 – Intro)

Lecturer: Xiangyun Du Ass. teacher: Lars Peter Jensen

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Mm 3: Cross-cultural Team Building

Learning outcome:

After this mm you should be able to• Understand how cultural differences between

group members may influence the team work in your project group

• Reflect upon your own preferred learning style in order to improve your learning

• Take into consideration differences in culture and learning styles in your team work

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Mm 3: Cross-cultural Team Building

Programme:

• Lecture I: Learning in a New Culture by Xiangyun

• Introduction to group task• Group discussion on cultural differences • Poster presentation, group by group• Lecture II: On learning styles – test and

follow-up

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Introduction to Group Task (1)

Organisation:• Students divided into 5 groups with• As many different nationalities as possible.• Group task: Discuss one main area• Each student provide information about her/his

own culture• … welcome to discuss other areas afterwards

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Introduction to Group Task (2)

Main areas of discussion:• Face-to-face Communication• Timing and Meetings• Learning Environment• Teacher-student Relations• Value of Success and Failure

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Introduction to Group Task (3)

Preparation:• Each group prepares a poster• The poster title is <Main area>• Poster organised according to cultures

represented• Most important responses written in the poster

Plenum presentation:• Each group has 10 minutes • Each student introduces another culture • 5 minutes for clarifying questions and

comments.

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Lecture II: On Learning Styles

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On Learning Styles

Overview:

• WHAT is learning style?• WHY test learning style?• The test• Different learning styles

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WHAT is learning style?

• A person’s way of taking in and processing information – and thereby learn.

• Different persons have different learning styles.

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WHY test learning style?

• To make you aware of how you learn • …and thereby improve your learning

process

• To enable the group to take into consideration the group members’ different learning styles

• … and thereby improve your team work

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The learning styles test (1)

1. Circle "a" or "b" for every one of the 44 questions.

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The learning styles test (2)

2. Fill out the scoring sheet with a ’1’ for each of your answers.

3. Add ’1’s in column ’a’ and column ’b’ in each of the 4 fields.

4. Calculate the numerical difference between a-score and b-score and add an ’a’ or a ’b’ depending upon which is the larger sum.

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The learning styles test (3)

5. Transfer your 4 preferences to the preference sheet which you keep yourself.

6. Each group member transfers her/his 4 preferences to the group preference sheet, as well as to the group acetate.

7. The scoring sheet is handed in to the lecturer. Remember to write name, sex and nationality. The group acetate is also handed in to the lecturer.

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Different learning styles - 1

Sensing Learners

• Concrete: facts and data

• Focus on sensory input

• Practical • Observant • Repetition

Intuitive Learners

• Abstract: theory and models

• Focus on subconscious

• Imaginative • Look for meanings • Variety

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Different learning styles - 2

Visual Learners

• ‘Show me’• Pictures• Diagrams• Sketches• Schematics• Flow charts

Verbal learners

• ‘Explain it to me’• Spoken word• Written words

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Different learning styles - 3

Active Learners

• ‘Let’s try it out’• Process actively• Jump in prematurely • Like group work

Reflective Learners

• ‘Let’s think about it’• Process

introspectively • Work quietly • Slow in starting• Like solo or pair work

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Different learning styles - 4

Sequential Learners

• Function with partial understanding

• Steady progress • Explain easily • Analysis, details

Global Learners

• Need big picture to function

• Initially slow, then major leaps

• Can’t explain easily • Synthesis, systems-

ecological thinking

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REMEMBER:

• The test cannot be used to categorise people.

• No learning style is better than another – they are simply different.

• The more ways you are able to learn the better you learn.

• Take into consideration differences in learning styles when cooperating.

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…and this was all for today – thank you for your attention!