Intercultural competence for future leaders of educational technology and its evaluation

Abstract

Demands of globalization today continue to increase pressure for the education of global citizens who preserve the variety and vitality of life. Our transatlantic project has been developing a shared community of graduate students and faculty experts in educational technology across six universities. Evidence of the development of intercultural competence was analyzed from artifacts, self-report, interviews, and surveys. The findings showed that students gained intercultural competence in professional and personal spheres, with openness and flexibility that include acceptance, adaptability, and multiple perspectives. Applications of educational technology served as a bridge to introduce new cultures, knowledge and people to students.