Global Collaboration

Q2. Collaborating With Other Cultures

20. Global Collaboration

Direct link to the video

Introduction

In this Quest, you will review the skills needed to connect and engage with learners from a variety of different backgrounds and cultures. You will take a fun quiz to find out how open you are to working with people from different backgrounds and reflect on how you would handle cultural differences when you experience them.

Effective collaboration requires respect for your collaborators. Everyone brings something different to the conversation. Point of view, cultural differences, opinions, and teamwork skills can all affect collaborations. In this Quest, you will have a chance to experience the different cultural perspectives someone might bring to a conversation in a work setting. You will also find out how non-verbal communication impacts conversations since different cultures interpret gestures and body language to mean different things.

I Can Statements

  • give examples of how cultural differences can impact a global collaboration opportunity

  • explain why understanding and respecting non-verbal communication and cultural differences is important when doing a global collaboration

  • explain how non-verbal communication can have an impact on communication

Key Vocabulary

Cultural empathy: Having an appreciation and consideration of the differences and similarities of another culture in comparison to one's own. People with cultural empathy are more tolerant and understand cultural differences.

Culture: The beliefs, attitudes, and values that a group of people share. This may affect their dress, their behavior in a given situation, their religious customs, and more.

Gesture:  A deliberate body movement, especially of the hand or the head, that signifies meaning to the person observing the gesture.

Non-verbal communication:  This refers to gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice, eye contact (or lack thereof), body language, posture, and other ways people can communicate without using language.

Play the Vocabulary Game below to practice the Key Vocabulary. 

You can change the Quiz mode to Match, Test, Learn, Flash Cards, Spell using the selection list at the bottom right of the activity that says "Choose a Study Mode." Direct Link

Steps:

Your teacher will ask you to participate in an activity that helps you understand the importance of non-verbal communication.

Before you begin the steps, Copy or download this
20.Q2 Collaborating with Other Cultures Notes Document

1. You will take a quick culture quiz from an organization that helps people collaborate globally.

  • How much do you know about working with other cultures?
  • Find out by taking this quiz, “Working Globally Across Cultures.” You will share your thoughts about the quiz in a way your teacher directs, such as a group discussion or in a Padlet created by your teacher..

2. Review these non-verbal communication rules for doing business in Japan. 

Options for viewing and access: Use the slide show embedded below, or this document Non-verbal communication rules for doing business in Japan.

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3. With a partner, brainstorm three-five behaviors you would avoid in a Japanese business meeting based on the slide deck above.  If you would like additional resources to review, check out, Japanese Communication Style: It’s More Than Knowing the Language. Add your behaviors to your notes document and be prepared to share based on directions from your teacher.

4. Now take some time to think about and record in your notes document the differences between American business communication practices and Japanese business practices.   You will need to read through the article (American Culture Communication) to gain some insight into the American practices.  Check out both the verbal and non-verbal communication sections.

  • Compare this to the suggestions for doing business in America. 
  • How would you describe Japanese business culture?
  • How would you describe American business culture?
  • How are they alike and different?
  • Either individually or with a partner, create a digital artifact to explore these cultural differences. You can do this on your Quest 2 Notes Template, on paper, Padlet, or using an online Venn diagram creator such as the one in classtools.net/Venn/ Be sure to take a screenshot or share the web link if you use an online tool.
  • What conclusions can you make about communicating and doing business globally?

5. Reviewing Global Cultures.

  • Use this Country and Culture Guide. In the Select a country drop down, choose one country that is on interest to you.  
    • Your teacher may assign one or allow you to select a culture.



  • Scroll down to “Business Culture and Etiquette” section.
  • Record, on your notes document, your findings on Communication Styles, Meeting & Greeting, Business Card Etiquette, Business Meetings, and Dress Code (if stated).
  • Your teacher may ask you to:
    • Work in partners or small groups
    • Communicate your learning about this culture by sharing out key ideas with your classmates in some way, such as creating a digital poster, a hand-created poster, or a slide or two for a short slide show. You should highlight key ideas about business and communication in this culture.

6. Consider what you have learned about cultural empathy, non-verbal communication, and preparing for cultural exchanges.

Your teacher will review the options for you to reflect on these questions, possibly with the class as a whole, in small groups, with partners in a pair and share, or on a discussion board or some combination of those activities:

  • Why is it important to be aware of the cultural preferences of a group when doing a global collaboration?

  • What might a good global collaborator do to prepare for cultural exchanges?

  • How can non-verbal communication have an impact on a conversation?

  • What skills and actions will we use as a result of these new understandings? In other words, what competencies will we demonstrate?

***Record your answers in your note document to these questions which will help you with a future Quest, where you will create a “Global Citizen in Action Guide” to demonstrate the competencies you have mastered as a global collaborator.

Completing this Quest

In order to successfully complete this Quest you will submit the following resources as your teacher directs:

  • Working Globally Across Cultures quiz; sharing in a Padlet or other means per teacher direction

  • Reflection on cultural empathy, non-verbal communication, and preparing for cultural exchanges (e.g. Digital poster, slide or slides, or hand-created poster sharing the meeting customs from other cultures)

  • Check with your teacher about turning in your notes document.


 Check off this Quest on the 21t4s roadmap 

   I am ready for the next Quest, Speaking Out about Global Issues

20.Q2 Student Checklist

 

20.Q2 Teacher Guide

 

MITECS  Michigan Integrated Technology Competencies for Students, and

ISTE Standards for Students

1. Empowered Learner
a. Articulate and set personal learning goals, develop strategies leveraging technology to achieve them and reflect on the learning process itself to improve learning outcomes

2. Digital Citizen
a. Cultivate and manage their digital identity and reputation and are aware of the permanence of their actions in the digital world
b. Engage in positive, safe, legal and ethical behavior when using technology, including social interactions online or when using networked devices
c. Demonstrate an understanding of and respect for the rights and obligations of using and sharing intellectual property

3. Knowledge Constructor
d. Curate information from digital resources using a variety of tools and methods to create collections of artifacts that demonstrate meaningful connections or conclusions

6. Creative Communicator
b. Create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations
c. Communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively by creating or using a variety of digital objects such as visualizations, models or simulations
d. Publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences

7. Global Collaborator
c. Contribute constructively to project teams, assuming various roles and responsibilities to work effectively toward a common goal
d. Explore local and global issues and use collaborative technologies to work with others to investigate solutions

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