Module 4 – Educational Change & Reciprocal Learning by Shijing Xu, PhD, Chenkai Chi & Yuhan Deng
Welcome Message and Introduction
Changing immigration patterns and associated changing demographics in Canada have a significant influence on education. The concept of Reciprocal Learning is to challenge the perceived viewpoint that immigrants and newcomers need to adapt to and integrate into the receiving culture (Xu, 2006,2017). Reciprocal Learning is un–dualism thinking that sees both newcomers and receiving cultures needing to adapt, with emphasis that newcomers are contributors who bring their own culture and narratives. Educators, researchers and policymakers in the 21st century need to know how to establish dialogues among different civilizations for West-East Reciprocal learning.
This course is designed to help you understand what West and East Reciprocal Learning is, why it is needed and how it is adopted in studies as a framework. The course is divided into three parts:
- Part 1 Globalization in Education: Conflicts Among Civilizations or Dialogues Across Cultures;
- Part 2: Different Ways of Knowing for Reciprocal Learning;
- Part 3: Different Ways of Inquiry in International and Intercultural Studies.
Part One focuses on how globalization impacts teacher education, school education, and teaching practices. With that, you can construct a comprehensive understanding of current educational contexts that shape and re-shape the educational landscape around the world, which prepares you for Part Two, with its focus on the concept of Reciprocal Learning. Part Three is practical application, using different ways of inquiry in research, especially narrative inquiry as a methodology in international and intercultural studies.
Each weekly session is composed of four parts: Readings (Required/Recommended), Assignments, Resources for West-East Reciprocal Learning, and Language and Culture Learning Materials (English and Chinese). In Readings, we select some typical and relevant articles that correspond to the week’s topic. To facilitate readings, we give you two/three questions weekly, and weekly assignments to complete. We also provide some resources to enhance your understanding of West-East Reciprocal learning, and language learning materials for non-Chinese and non-English speaking students to learn or improve your foreign language skills, and learn about the different cultures so you can develop a thorough and contextualized understanding of Reciprocal Learning.
Learning Outcomes:
- Develop an interest in international and intercultural communication and dialogue across cultures, and connections to your own cultural context;
- Become culturally–responsive teachers and researchers through inquiry-based learning;
- Develop an understanding of educational issues that are important for West and East from a reflective and critical perspective;
- Engage in Reciprocal Learning activities to learn and appreciate different ways of knowing;
- Apply the knowledge and skills gained from the course to your professional development and research activities;
- Recognize and respect ethical dimensions associated with research in intercultural and international settings.
Themes for the course
Part One: Globalization in Education: Conflicts Among Civilizations or Dialogues Across Cultures
- Session 1: Globalization in Education and Global Competences and Intercultural Competences (Weeks 1 and 2)
- Session 2: Multicultural Education in Canada and in China (Weeks 3 and 4)
- Session 3: Teacher Preparation for Globalized context: Teacher Education in China and in Canada (Weeks 5 and 6)
- Session 4: K-12 School Education: Different Values and Pedagogies
- Kindergarten and Elementary School Education in China and Canada (Week 7)
- Secondary School Education in China and Canada (Week 8)
Part Two: Different Ways of Knowing for Reciprocal Learning
- Session 5: The Concept of Reciprocal Learning (Weeks 9 and 10)
Part Three: Different Ways of Inquiry in International and Intercultural Studies
- Session 6: Methodologies in International and Cross-cultural Studies (Narrative Inquiry) (Week 11)
- Session 7: Inquiry-based Collaborative Research (Week 12)
