Understanding Cultural Diversity

Diversity is one area in the Sociology computer lab that a learning object can help teach. A learning object (LO) is a self-contained learning unit that supports or provides learning. Santos et al. (2022) define LO as any digital or non-digital entity that can be used, reused, and is available on the web. It includes videos, interactive simulations, and multiple other digital formats (American College of Education, 2023).

In the Understanding Cultural Diversity LO, the learner is introduced to the concept of cultural diversity through three objectives: a definition of the key components of cultural diversity, an understanding of the benefits and challenges of cultural diversity in society and the workplace, and the identification of strategies for promoting inclusion.

Backgrounds

We all come from different cultures and backgrounds, and due to the interconnectedness of the world, we must collaborate to achieve our business objectives. As a result, we need to be aware of our diverse backgrounds and appreciate them as assets rather than liabilities to our collective goals. We need to communicate across cultures and not let them negatively impact us.

In our work environments, we must be able to recognize and address implicit bias and stereotyping. This will help us address diversity.  The more we are conscious of implicit prejudice and stereotypes, the more we can avoid them. Therefore, self-reflection is a necessary and constant practice.

Global Timeline

A brief exploration of various countries worldwide is conducted to highlight their diverse values and cultures. Strict adherence to time and preplanning is a significant factor in some cultures, but it is rather a fluid experience in others. In addition, an expose is made of leading egalitarian and hierarchical societies to put diversity in perspective, especially in the workplace. Practices in the Western hemisphere are juxtaposed with experiences in the East to illustrate the point. This paints a picture of the manager’s role in various situations. Finally, some countries are mapped on the time dimension to clarify their respect for multiple aspects of life and on the egalitarian and hierarchical dimensions to provide practical examples of cases in point. Short, interactive quizzes (including multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions) are available in every section to provide an engaging learning experience. There are other exercises, such as drag-and-drop, that enable users to interact with the system. Instant feedback is provided to alert the user how successfully they are interacting with the system. The learning object is available at this link: https://elearning.easygenerator.com/7b0b11de-1415-42ea-89ed-509d37d5f583/

Systems

Learning objects need a stable hardware system to operate. A Windows-based system with internet access is sufficient for Understanding Cultural Diversity LO. Because it is web-based, it can also work on cross-platform systems such as MacOS and Linux. 

These learning objects are excellent in cementing knowledge, motivating the students, and increasing self-regulation. Unfortunately, in some cases (like the flight simulator experience), learners may experience anxiety and lose the learner-teacher relationship (Dumitrica & Jarmula, 2022). Yet, for all its weaknesses, learning objects still retain merit in successfully and efficiently delivering instruction to the student.

References

Santos, A.I.; Costa, A.C.; Botelho, A.Z.; Parente, M.I.; Cascalho, J.; Freitas, D.; Behr, A.; Rodrigues, A.; Mendes, A.B. (2022). Learning Objects in the Educational Context: The Perspective of Teachers in the Azores. Educ. Sci., (12), 309. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12050309

Dumitrica, D. & Jarmula, P. (2022). Teaching Qualitative Research Methods in Media and Communication: The Benefits and Limitations of Digital Learning Objects. The Qualitative Report, 27(9), 1934-1951. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2022.5256 

American College of Education. (2023). Designing Learning Objects.  https://ace.instructure.com/courses/1843213/external_tools/118428