A Transcultural Wisdom Bank in the Classroom: Making Cultural Diversity a Key Resource in Teaching and Learning

Abstract

This article presents an account of how the author has made cultural diversity a powerful pedagogical resource for teaching rather than a burden. It is suggested that such an approach can deliver real educational benefits, rather than simply being a protocol to meet the requirements of “political correctness” or commercial imperatives. The issues addressed include how and why the author (a) mobilises cultural diversity and a comparative perspective in her curriculum; (b) proposes the notion of a “transcultural wisdom bank”; (c) brings cultural diversity into students’ active learning, which is achieved with intellectual depth and personal engagement; and (d) demonstrates with a learning infrastructure of group work and a “super-structure” of cultural contrasts to generate surprises and provoke new thoughts and discovery.