Global Ed Students are Challenged with Technology While Abroad

Students’ opinions were mixed as they shared their global experiences last week during the From the Four Corner’s Forum.  Did technology enhance or hinder their immersion experience?

Staying in touch with family and friends is easier now than ever.  This has proven to be both a hindrance and help for students who study abroad.  Tuesday, November 1^st, nine students talked about their global education experiences at the 4^th annual From the Four Corner’s Forum, held in Jenks 406.  The panel had opposing opinions on the subject.

Lauren Owen ’12, an English and Secondary Education major, spent last spring semester abroad with Gordon IN Orvieto.  Encountering an American professor at the theatre in Italy, Owen mentioned his concern for the future of students’ cultural immersion while tied to modern technology. 

“It’s so sad that American students go abroad, sit in a café and spend all day on Skype, Facebook or Twitter,” said the professor.

David Botticello ’12, a History and Pike major studied in both the Middle East and the Scholar’s Semester in Oxford last spring.  While he appreciated the ability to stay in touch while overseas, he recognized that technology held him back from full cultural immersion.

“Technology was both a blessing and a curse,” said Botticello.  “People (in the States) expected me to constantly stay connected with them.”

Amy Holcombe ’12, a Linguistics and Combined Languages major, expressed her thankfulness for technology during her time in Aix, France and Buenos Aires, Argentina last spring.

“Staying connected with people back home and seeing photos of them makes you feel like you are still there,” said Holcombe.

But is this Gordon’s goal of studying abroad?  According to the Global Education mission statement, the purpose of global education is, “To promote responsible living in modern world, enhance understanding of cultural differences, communicate across cultural boundaries, and work for peace and justice among people and nations.”  Without traveling outside one’s comfort zone, nothing will change.

Mallory Moench ’14, an English major from Scotland, went to India with Gordon’s summer missions’ team last summer.  She intentionally made an effort to put aside any connection with home or Gordon during her visit.  After two weeks, she booted up the Internet and logged onto Facebook.

“It was good to take a break for a time,” said Moench, “but then it was really nice to be in touch again and tell my family and friends about my experiences.”

Global Understanding is now a core requirement for all Gordon students.  Is our global understanding inhibited by technology?  The intention of the global understanding core is described to, “Equip students to reflect purposefully upon the theory and praxis of what it means to be citizen-sojourners rather than passive onlookers or blithe consumers of ‘culture’.”