New Educational Environments Aimed at Developing Intercultural Understanding While Reinforcing the Use of English in Experience-Based Learning

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present the outcome of an innovative course offered by four universities in three countries: Canada, the United States, and Mexico, which focused on broadening the understanding of indigenous and non-indigenous peoples primarily in relation to identity as it encouraged students to reflect on their own identity while improving their English skills in an interactive and experiential manner.

Abstract: New learning environments with communication and information tools are increasingly accessible with technology playing a crucial role in expanding and reconceptualizing student learning experiences. This paper reviews the outcome of an innovative course offered by four universities in three countries: Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Course objectives focused on broadening the understanding of indigenous and non-indigenous peoples primarily in relation to identity as it encouraged students to reflect on their own identity while improving their English skills in an interactive and experiential manner and thus enhancing their intercultural competence. Cada vez es mas facil tener acceso a nuevos entornos de aprendizaje que utilizan herramientas de comunicacion e informacion en las que la tecnologia desempena un papel crucial en la expansion y la reconceptualizacion de las experiencias de aprendizaje del estudiante. En este articulo se revisa el resultado de un curso innovador que se ofrecio en cuatro universidades de tres paises: Canada, Estados  Unidos y Mexico. Los objetivos del curso se centraron en ampliar la comprension de los pueblos indigenas y no indigenas, en particular en relacion con la identidad. Esto alento a los estudiantes a reflexionar sobre su propia identidad, a la vez que mejoraban sus habilidades del ingles de una manera interactiva y experimental, logrando asi mejorar su competencia intercultural.