Cross-Cultural and Multicultural Communication

ED 529 and CA 529 Cross-Cultural and Multicultural Communication

This page: http://onlineacademics.org/Multicultural/

Dr. J. Aitken

CA235 Online

CA235 Onground

Textbook:

McBride, J. (1996). The color of water: A Black man's tribute to his White mother. New York: Riverhead Books. ISBN: 1-57322-578-9 Park University Bookstore: http://www.park.edu/Bookstore/

Supplemental Text (Not required)

Neuliep, J. W. (2009). Intercultural communication: A contextual approach. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Any edition is fine. You may be able to examine the material here before deciding whether to purchase. http://books.google.com/books?id=tDkkUSOpmKMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=neuliep+intercultural+communication&client=firefox-a#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Learning Outcomes:
1. To facilitate more effective communication episodes across gender, ethnicity, culture, and other barriers.

2. To examine the origins of personal beliefs and individual perception.

3. To provide opportunities for exploration of other cultures.

4. To develop strategies for improving communication across cultural boundaries.

5. To establish a philosophical foundation for the study of communication and culture.

(NBPTS 2, 5)

Assignment Point Value - 100 Points

Grading:
Final Grades will be determined according to the following scale:

A = 90-100
B = 80-89.99
C = 70-79.99
D = 60-69.99
F = 60 or below

Late Submission of Course Materials:
In a monochromic culture like ours, meeting deadlines is crucial to effective communication and leadership. Thus, meeting deadlines is a way of showing understanding of the meaning of time in our culture. Minor assignments will not be accepted late. Deadlines for major assignments must be met on time or the grade will be automatically docked 50%. Assignment will be accepted late with a physician's excuse.

Course Topic/Dates/Assignments:
Assignments: http://onlineacademics.org/Multicultural/Assignments.htm

COURSE TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Week	Reading	Further Exploration in Neuliep text	Minor Assignments	Major Assignment Due by Sun
Week 1 Approaches to the study of culture and communication Hofstede's 4 Dimensions of Cultural Variability Interpersonal relationships and the androgynous person		1 The Necessity of Intercultural Communication 2. The Cultural Context	Read and discuss lecture(s). Complete measure and discuss. Discussion threads.
Week 2 Verbal and nonverbal aspects of gender communication Headbands Jayne's Dilemma Perspectives on the status of women in other cultures: an overview	Quick read of The Color of Water cover to cover.	3. The Microcultural Context 4. The Environmental Context	Read and discuss lecture(s). Complete measure and discuss. Discussion threads.	Into the Storm Reflection
Week 3 The Color of Water	The Color of Water, Chapters 1-10	5. The Perceptual Context 6. The Sociorelational Context	Read and discuss lecture(s). Complete measure and discuss. Discussion threads.	Reflection Paper Color of Water Threaded Discussion Leader
Week	Reading	Further Exploration in Neuliep text	Minor Assignments	Major Assignment Due
Week 4 The Color of Water	The Color of Water, Chapters 11-20	7. The Verbal Code: Human Language 8. The Nonverbal Code	Read and discuss lecture(s). Complete measure and discuss. Discussion threads.	Reflection Paper Color of Water Threaded Discussion Leader
Week 5 The Color of Water,	The Color of Water, Chapters 21-Epilogue	9. Developing Intercultural Relationships 10. Intercultural Conflict	Read and discuss lecture(s). Complete measure and discuss. Discussion threads.	Color of Water Threaded Discussion Leader
Week	Reading	Further Exploration in Neuliep text	Minor Assignments	Major Assignment Due
Week 6		11. Intercultural Communication in Organizations 12. Acculturation, Culture Shock, and Intercultural Competence	Read and discuss lecture(s). Complete measure and discuss. Discussion threads.	Core Assessment Reflection Web Presentation
Week 7		Religion and Communication Adaptation	Read and discuss lecture(s). Discussion threads.	Communication Style Reflection Web Presentation
Week 8 Closure			Discussion threads.	Web Presentation

Academic Honesty and Plagiarism:

Because of the importance of the value of academic honesty and ethics in the culture of academia, I follow a zero tolerance policy. Use your own words in everything. If the idea is someone else's, cite and reference the source of information. In the rare case you use someone else's words, use quotation marks, and cite, and reference in APA style.

Any student who duplicates content--as identified by Turnitin software--without direct quotations and proper citation earns an "F."

READ and KNOW American Psychological Association (APA) Ethical Requirements for this program:

Expectations of ethical behaviors pp. 11-20.

Compliance checklist p. 20.

Complying With Ethical, Legal, and Policy Requirements, p. 231-236.

Crediting Sources pp. 169-174.

Self-plagiarism, pp. 16, 29, 170.

For additional information about ethical expectations, see http://onlineacademics.org/Grad/Ethics.htm

INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION BOARD

Wk 1 INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION BOARD

Engage with other students by discussing this week's reading and lectures and how you are applying what you learn, and responding to other students. The response should be about ideas, and more than just "I agree" or "good point," although those comments are welcome too. Please post on multiple days during the week.

Wk 2 INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION BOARD

Engage with other students by discussing this week's reading and lectures and how you are applying what you learn, and responding to other students. The response should be about ideas, and more than just "I agree" or "good point," although those comments are welcome too. Please post on multiple days during the week.

Wk 3 INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION BOARD

Engage with other students by discussing this week's reading and lectures and how you are applying what you learn, and responding to other students. The response should be about ideas, and more than just "I agree" or "good point," although those comments are welcome too. Please post on multiple days during the week.

Wk 4 INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION BOARD

Engage with other students by discussing this week's reading and lectures and how you are applying what you learn, and responding to other students. The response should be about ideas, and more than just "I agree" or "good point," although those comments are welcome too. Please post on multiple days during the week.

Wk 5 INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION BOARD

Engage with other students by discussing this week's reading and lectures and how you are applying what you learn, and responding to other students. The response should be about ideas, and more than just "I agree" or "good point," although those comments are welcome too. Please post on multiple days during the week.

Wk 6 INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION BOARD

Engage with other students by discussing this week's reading and lectures and how you are applying what you learn, and responding to other students. The response should be about ideas, and more than just "I agree" or "good point," although those comments are welcome too. Please post on multiple days during the week.

Wk 7 INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION BOARD

Engage with other students by discussing this week's reading and lectures and how you are applying what you learn, and responding to other students. The response should be about ideas, and more than just "I agree" or "good point," although those comments are welcome too. Please post on multiple days during the week.

Wk 8 INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION BOARD

Engage with other students by discussing this week's reading and lectures and how you are applying what you learn, and responding to other students. The response should be about ideas, and more than just "I agree" or "good point," although those comments are welcome too. Please post on multiple days during the week.

PREREADING (Wednesday)

Wk1 This week we will discuss the necessity for intercultural competence and how contexts affect communication. We will look at ideas by Hofstede and the idea of how groups of people oppress or are oppressed by others (complementary schismogenesis). What do you already know about those ideas to improve your intercultural communication skills?
Wk2 This week we will compare cultural studies and behavioral sciences as an approach to learning. We will also look at microcultural groups and the importance of environment on communication. What do you already know about this week's topics? What have you done since last week to improve your intercultural communication and relationship skills?
Wk3 Topics include how perceptual and social contexts affect intercultural communication. We will also begin discussing the Color of Water. What do you already know about this week's topics? What have you done since last week to improve your intercultural communication and relationship skills?
Wk4 Topics include how the verbal and nonverbal codes affect intercultural communication. What do you already know about this week's topics? What have you done since last week to improve your intercultural communication and relationship skills?
Wk5 Topics include intercultural relationships and intercultural conflict. What do you already know about this week's topics? What have you done since last week to improve your interpersonal communication and relationship skills?
Wk6 This week you will begin sharing intercultural communication related websites with each other. You'll also give a summary of the experiential learning you did in the activity where you were a cultural minority (put the full paper in the dropbox). Any thoughts as we get started? What have you done since last week to improve your interpersonal communication and relationship skills?

Wk7 This week you will consider intercultural communication in organizations and your own intercultural competence. What do you already know about this week's topics? What have you done since last week to improve your interpersonal communication and relationship skills?

Wk8 This week you'll consider the influence of religion on intercultural communication. What do you already know about this week's topics? What have you done since last week to improve your interpersonal communication and relationship skills?

SELF-ANALYSIS TEST (Friday)

Complete a self-analysis measure from the course unit or a relevant online source such as http://www.jamescmccroskey.com/measures/ . What is your score and what does the score suggest about your intercultural communication skills and areas of needed improvement?

Wk1 BEM SEX ROLE INVENTORY

The BSRI is based on traditional, even stereotypical, masculine and feminine characteristics. Do you think that your scores are an accurate reflection of you as a man or woman? Do you behave in ways that are consistent with your scores? To what extent is your behavior culturally determined?

Wk2

Wk3

Wk4

Wk5

Wk 6

Wk 7

Wk8

HOFSTEDE

To what extent do differences in Hofstede's dimensions contribute to misunderstandings between cultures? What suggestions can we pursue to reduce misunderstandings?

GENERAL DISCUSSION (Friday)

Discuss a key idea, principle, or example from the text readings or lectures which grabbed your attention. Apply the course content to your experience. Any ideas about this week's materials are relevant.

COLOR OF WATER (Sunday)

Student led discussion on this section. The assigned leader will provide a summary and some questions, then respond to peer answers.

REFLECTION "PAPER" (Sunday)

Post your reflection paper here or discuss your progress on an upcoming reflection paper.

ALTERNATIVE VIEWPOINTS WELCOME

Is there a museum, lecture-series, festival, or community group where you can go locally to broaden your intercultural experience?

Deadlines - Grading - Late - Resources - Textbook

Dr. Noe is the course developer, so you may find inconsistencies with Dr. Aitken's expectations. If you have questions, please ask Dr. Aitken via the external email system: joan.aitken@park.edu Make sure you use your @park.edu email because our security system blocks most nonPark emails. Dr. Aitken seldom checks the internal email system.

By way of introduction, Dr. Aitken is Professor, Arts and Communication, at Park University. Previously, Dr. Aitken taught at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Louisiana-Lafayette, and University of Arkansas-Fayetteville.

She was educated at Michigan State, the University of Arkansas, the University of Hawaii, and University of Missouri. She completed 40 graduate hours as an online student and taught online courses for three universities.

Dr. Aitken has worked internationally in Jamaica and the People's Republic of China. She has two adult children who have lived abroad, and you will see some of their photography as illustrations in the course shell. Dr. Aitken helped provide intercultural course teaching materials for Dr. Neuliep, an expert on intercultural communication.

Dr. Aitken has published seven books and more than 50 articles and book chapters. Dr. Aitken’s most recent book is entitled ICOMM: Interpersonal Concepts and Competencies.

Office 816-584-6785 joan.aitken@park.edu

SYLLABUS

See the welcome message for the syllabus link.

HOW DO I ACCESS MY ONLINE COURSE?

If you are reading this page, you probably found your way. (grin) Go to http://parkonline.org/ You can probably look around in there about a week before the course start date, but do NOT expect content to be updated until the first day of the course. Sometimes professors are assigned to courses at the last minute, so they have to adapt the course to their teaching styles at the last minute.

HOW DO I BUY THE RIGHT TEXTBOOKS?

Buy McBride's Color of Water. You can contact the bookstore at 816-584-6747. To order textbooks online, go to http://www.park.edu/Bookstore/.

WHERE DO I FIND IMPORTANT DEADLINES?

For the course, see "Assignments" under the Course Home.

Many important deadlines for the course will be in your syllabus. In addition, you will want to be aware of the different Park University deadlines such as confirmation (payment for courses), adding or dropping a course, or withdrawing from a course. Please be sure to be aware of the academic calendar and if appropriate, review the policies and deadlines for adding, dropping, or withdrawing from a course. Remember, notices will be sent to your Park account only.

HOW DO I FIND POLICIES AND RESOURCES?

Reading through the catalog-- http://www.park.edu/grad/catalog.aspx --that applies to you is very important. It lists the policies and procedures that you are expected to follow in your graduate career. Check graduate school information here: http://www.park.edu/grad/

The gradebook for this course has to be designed from scratch each term to go with Dr. Aitken's Discussion Boards, which is done on a week by week basis. See the "Assignments" link under "Home" for assignment weighting.

Example Grading

Typically, final grades are earned according to the following scale:

A = 90-100
B = 80-89.99
C = 70-79.99
D = 60-69.99
F = 59.99 or below

Grading Feedback

You can expect to see a grade or feedback in the gradebook within one week of the due date. If not, please contact your professor.

COURSE CONTENT SOURCE CREDITS

Text of lectures, overviews, tests, and similar materials are directly quoted from course textbooks.

Clipart and other visuals are from Microsoft, http://www.allposters.com/, or as indicated. Copyright by original author/publisher. All rights reserved.

LATE SUBMISSION OF COURSE MATERIALS

Be on time. Please submit a physician's excuse for late assignments. In a monochronic time culture like the US, meeting deadlines is crucial to effective communication, leadership, and business success. Thus, being on time is a way of showing that you know the nonverbal meaning of time in the US culture.