Presenter Information

Mesut AkdereFollow
Kris Acheson-Clair

Start Date

6-6-2017 12:00 AM

Description

Short Abstract:

Our research team is designing, implementing, and evaluating the effectiveness of intercultural leadership learning interventions that utilize virtual reality technologies to help students develop empathy, curiosity, and openness. This research will offer polytechnic faculty another tool to strengthen learning by diverse audiences and a new research method for measuring learning.

Full Abstract:

This project provides a model for collaborative research across STEM and non-STEM disciplines that capitalizes on the theories, pedagogical approaches, and measurement tools that each offer. Our research team is designing, implementing, and evaluating the effectiveness of intercultural leadership learning interventions that utilize virtual reality technologies. While virtual reality has been frequently used to train individuals in scientific and technical skills such as military readiness, aviation maintenance, and surgery, the potential of this cyberlearning technology to facilitate the development of less technical but still critical skills such as leadership and cultural awareness has not been explored. In determining the appropriateness of VR as a cyberlearning technology to develop such skills and attitudes such as empathy, curiosity, and openness, this research will offer polytechnic faculty another tool to strengthen learning by diverse audiences and a new research method for measuring learning. Implications for the polytechnic community include: 1) synergy between sciences and social sciences, with their integration benefiting both; 2) the capacity to bring individualized experiential and reflective learning up to scale at a large institution; and 3) a deeper understanding of which technologies are the best fit both for learning and for the assessment of learning outcomes in this context.

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Jun 6th, 12:00 AM

Developing Intercultural Leadership Competencies through Virtual Reality: A Model Collaborative Research Design

Short Abstract:

Our research team is designing, implementing, and evaluating the effectiveness of intercultural leadership learning interventions that utilize virtual reality technologies to help students develop empathy, curiosity, and openness. This research will offer polytechnic faculty another tool to strengthen learning by diverse audiences and a new research method for measuring learning.

Full Abstract:

This project provides a model for collaborative research across STEM and non-STEM disciplines that capitalizes on the theories, pedagogical approaches, and measurement tools that each offer. Our research team is designing, implementing, and evaluating the effectiveness of intercultural leadership learning interventions that utilize virtual reality technologies. While virtual reality has been frequently used to train individuals in scientific and technical skills such as military readiness, aviation maintenance, and surgery, the potential of this cyberlearning technology to facilitate the development of less technical but still critical skills such as leadership and cultural awareness has not been explored. In determining the appropriateness of VR as a cyberlearning technology to develop such skills and attitudes such as empathy, curiosity, and openness, this research will offer polytechnic faculty another tool to strengthen learning by diverse audiences and a new research method for measuring learning. Implications for the polytechnic community include: 1) synergy between sciences and social sciences, with their integration benefiting both; 2) the capacity to bring individualized experiential and reflective learning up to scale at a large institution; and 3) a deeper understanding of which technologies are the best fit both for learning and for the assessment of learning outcomes in this context.