Kansai - Hawaii Collaborative Video Project: Student-centered, authentic and project-based learning

Abstract

Since 2010, a graduate class, ICT for Learning, was offered to students at Kansai University. This class, taught entirely in English, employs modern pedagogy and instructional strategies that includes constructivism, project-based learning, authentic learning, and collaborative learning. This paper highlights one major assignment: To communicate, collaborate and produce a joint video with University of Hawaii graduate students. Student teams selected their own ICT, documentation and video production tools. The instructors encouraged use of mobile applications since they afford mobility, convenience, low cost and flexibility. Videos were shared in a Google+ community and peer reviewed. The authors reviewed student evaluation data, comments and informal conversations. The results show that the students are engaged in learning while increasing their intercultural awareness as they interact with Hawaii students. This case study revealed numerous factors that, when presented to students in an orientation, help ease the transition to an intercultural, online collaborative environment.