Assignment # 3: Introduction & Thesis

Running head: CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS IN ONLINE LEARNING 1

Cultural Considerations in Online Learning

Bimbo Dibbo

Heaven University

CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS IN ONLINE LEARNING 2

Cultural Considerations in Online Learning

Introduction

Background

As the world becomes more connected electronically, interaction between cultures is not

the exception, but very much characteristic of mainstream communication practices today. For

example, customer service phone calls routed to India are common for many American

companies, as are online helpdesk queries. National boundaries, while still physical, are crossed

virtually every day via Internet technology. In essence, global boundaries have become quite

permeable. This is evidenced most especially in economic terms in many societies, but cross-

cultural exchanges are also becoming regular occurrences in higher education. Online education

has grown at exponential rates in the past few years where the “12.9 percent growth rate for

online enrollments far exceeds the 1.2 percent growth of the overall higher education student

population” (Allen & Seaman, 2008, p. 1); consequently, online education plays a critical role in

the globalization of higher education as a whole because of the masses of people it reaches and

serves within and across national borders.

Statement of the Problem (Problem)

Educating people from different cultures is a trying prospect. Even today where access to

people in different countries is relatively easy, and we engage in cross-cultural activities on

almost a daily basis, we still know very little about other cultures and how to educate students

from countries outside of our own. To further complicate matters, when dealing with online

education, we must also address the unique relationship each culture has with technology, as well

as varying degrees of access and an assortment of hardware and software products.

CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS IN ONLINE LEARNING 3

Ultimately, our goal in understanding other cultures is to have respect. In education, we

further that notion of respect from mere understanding (education) to fostering effective and

harmonious working relationships. To begin this process, we must learn the basics about how

other cultures teach and learn. We also have to define globalization. Globalization is a term that

is commonly used, but it has multiple meanings that can confuse attempts to be globalized. It is

also important to study the challenges that emerge as we try to institute globalization into our

classrooms.

Purpose (Thesis)

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the complexity of defining globalization and

explore issues associated with globalization in online education. Challenges of globalization in

online education associated with cultures are analyzed in this study using literature on topics

related to globalization and online learning.