Discussions Across Borders: A German-American Partnership

Abstract

This article reports on our experiences in a German-American partnership in internationalizing the curriculum. In a globalized world, engaging other cultures and identities as well as understanding global issues and events from other perspectives are important qualifications that allow students to gain different insights in political science. Yet, not all students have the opportunity to study abroad to achieve these goals. Today's technology, however, offers effective methods and techniques for internationalizing the curriculum and requiring students to think beyond their own national borders. Our “discussions across borders” show how communication technology can be utilized to create opportunities for international exchanges with students at a university in another country. Beginning in 2008, students at the University of North Florida and University of Muenster engaged in joint online discussions on international issues. Based upon the achievement of educational objectives, we consider these online discussions an effective way to increase student awareness of other cultures and perspectives as well as substantive course content. As such discussions could be replicated at other institutions, this article presents the educational objectives for, design and process of, assessment of, and challenges in carrying out discussions across borders. [Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of the Journal of Political Science Education for the following free supplemental resource: Appendix 1. This appendix contains an example of a student feedback form.]