Abstract

• Internationalization of curriculum is important in a world challenged by issues that require us all to think beyond our geographical and cultural boundaries. Within this context, global environmental change is a key issue.
• In this project, I will consider two ways that international context can be emphasized in the course Global Change Biology: (1) by providing students with relevant case studies (news stories) identified and explained by international experts, and, (2) by having students identify and explain relevant case studies to their peers. The issues identified will then be vetted and added to a developing database.
• The advancement of the database documenting issues of concern will provide students (current and future), educators, and researchers with a living record of the international (via expert selection) and local (via student selection) perception of important aspects of environmental change.
• By trialing, and publishing about, these different pedagogical approaches, educators will have access to evidence regarding the success of alternative techniques, which can inform their approaches.
• Ultimately, this project will enhance student recognition of the international nature of global environmental change, promote internationalization of learning, increase capacity to view issues from different perspectives, and help the development of boundary-crossing skills.

Brief write-up

Project objectives

Internationalization of curriculum is increasingly important in a world faced with challenges which develop at a global scale, and cross traditional boundaries – such as global climate change. Consequently, the overall goal of this project was to enhance student recognition of the international nature of global environmental change and its impacts.

Activities, process and outcomes

To achieve this goal, I proposed to enhance international context in the course Global Change Biology by sharing case studies (news articles) from around the world. Outcomes were determined through student surveys. The responses were overwhelmingly positive, indicating students felt better informed about human induced climate change, as well as region-specific effects.

Deliverables and evaluation

This project produced:
1) Enhanced documentation of the international context – recorded in the online database of case studies (tinyurl.com/2rd7kmd2);
2) Increased student awareness of international aspects of climate change;
3) Improved educator understanding of effectiveness of different approaches – both quantified through student surveys; and
4) Publication of a paper – a manuscript has been drafted and is currently undergoing peer-review.

Dissemination, diffusion, impact and sharing of good practices

The outcomes of this study, and recommendations for good practices of internationalization at home, will be shared through a peer-reviewed manuscript, presentation at an international scientific conference, and presentation at a local education-focused symposium.

Impact on teaching and learning

This approach to internationalization at home was well received by students, with survey results indicating it achieved the intended outcomes. In the future, I will continue to implement this approach with modifications made according to ongoing student feedback. Sharing the outcomes will allow for similar approaches to be implemented more broadly.

Video Report

Please click the following link for viewing the report.
https://cuhk.ap.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=b9f240a0-6ea7-4d28-b296-b123009d54de