Developing Global Leaders: Building Effective Global-lntercultural Collaborative Online Learning Environments

摘要

This paper shares the findings of a study conducted on a virtual inter-cultural global leadership development learning project. Mixed Methods analysis techniques were used to examine the interviews of U.S. and Uganda youth project participants. The study, based on cultural and social constructiv-ist learning theories, investigated the effects of implementing the Global Intercultural Online Collaborative Learning (GIO-CL) Model to guide educators in designing effective global intercultural online collaborative learning environments and experiences. Eighteen Ugandan and nineteen United States students participated in online discussions and presentations involving cultural and instructional topics. A mixed-method design involving the collection and analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data was used to assess students' global leadership aspirations and desires to expand knowledge of cultures quite distinct from their own country. Findings indicate that early introduction of global collaborative learning environments inspire desire of youth to develop early leadership competencies requiring them to transcend national boundaries.