English Corner: Fostering International Student Collaboration Through E-learning Technologies

Year: 2009
Editor: Clarke, A, Ion, W, McMahon, C and Hogarth, P
Author: Bull, Karen Lisa; McCartan, Sean; Beck, Andy
Section: COLLABORATIVE DESIGN
Page(s): 32-37

Abstract

This paper focuses on a CEPAD (Centre of Excellence for Product and Automotive Design) 'Framework for International Student Collaboration', and highlights the technological, cultural, and educational challenges and opportunities for sharing experiences, ideas, and support amongst students and staff. The globalisation of automotive and transport design industries has increased opportunities to engage with and operate within international communities of practice. In turn, this has necessitated accommodating strong cultural differences in learning styles moving from tutor-led to studentdirected, problem-centred approaches. This study demonstrates how a Boat Design module has been used as a primer for a model of Coventry University design pedagogy which aims to help prepare students and staff who will visit Zhejiang University of Media and Communications (ZUMC), Hangzhou, Peoples Republic of China in March 2009. The approach utilises social-networking tools and videoconferencing systems, and picks up on key cultural moments to help develop relationships and understanding of cultural aspects of designing and learning between two partner institutions. At the heart of the framework is 'English Corner', a collective and multi-faceted set of activities involving Facebook discussion, face-to-face networking between United Kingdom (UK), European Union (EU), (for the purposes of this paper these groups will be referred to as home students), and Peoples Republic of China (PRC) students enrolled in Coventry School of Art and Design (CSAD), and regular online meetings with peers and tutors in China. Strengths of this framework include offering students the chance to: discuss cultural and design issues; promote a mentoring role within student-peer activity; support students visiting the UK; help home students who are preparing to visit China, and managing and supporting them during their time in China; and help tutors explore different approaches to teaching.

Keywords: Internationalisation, design pedagogy, e-learning, collaboration