SIFTR‐ing through the development of cultural awareness at home and abroad

Abstract

AbstractToday's language learners benefit from cultural awareness, which can be fostered through experiences both at home and during study abroad. One approach to exploring culture that has gained popularity has been the use of geolocation technologies, which can help engage students in class and beyond. The sense of community developed through these collaborations can enhance or even recreate the classroom experience in virtual environments. This exploratory project uses a geolocation tool (Siftr, www.siftr.org) in two contexts, at home and abroad, to explore how technology can help foster cultural awareness in these two different contexts. Identified trends suggest that, regardless of context, Siftr can be incorporated in various learning contexts to open pathways to intercultural understanding and help learners intentionally notice their own culture and that of others.