The Role of Social Constructivist Instructional Approaches in Facilitating Cross-Cultural Online Learning in Higher Education

Abstract

The role of the university is rapidly changing in this new information age, as many courses and programs are using on-line modalities (i.e. live, interactive audio or video or video conferencing, pre-recorded instructional videos, Webcasts, CD-ROMs, DVDs, or computer-based systems accessed over the Internet) as part of their instructional delivery. Online learning education has closed the gap for many learners who would have been unable to attend an institution of higher learning due to family and career obligations; it has also been instrumental with facilitating collaborative learning and teamwork among students in cross-cultural and cross-national settings. However, due to these geographic variations among online learners from culturally diverse backgrounds, instructors may be faced with challenges hindering their facilitation of online courses and the overall learning outcomes among cross-cultural students. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss aspects of these challenges, provide educators across all discipline with an understanding of the role social constructivist instructional strategies have on facilitating an inclusive online cross-cultural learning environment, and provide recommendations for developing strategies to accommodate these diverse students.