The Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education (SITE)

«Accepted for Publication»

This presentation reports on an international service-learning project designed to increase the capacity and skillfulness of instructional technology students to collaborate with colleagues from different cultures utilizing online communication tools. The rationale is to address core competencies of 21st century skills related to cross-cultural communication skills and global awareness. Graduate students enrolled in one online and one blended section of a web design course, offered at a mid-size public U.S. university, formed groups to provide technical assistance to non-governmental organizations in India. The student groups were required to communicate online throughout the semester with their agency and community members in India. One primary problem addressed, and discussed in this presentation, is the evaluation of the types of synchronous and asynchronous e-learning tools that best encourage and support intercultural collaboration and information sharing.