Instructional Strategies

Students from hierarchical cultures may hesitate to engage in debate. Offer explicit permission to disagree and frame disagreement as a learning tool.

example

In a political science seminar, the lecturer begins by saying: “In this class, it’s okay, and encouraged, to politely disagree. You might say, ‘I see your point, but I’m curious about…’ or ‘I understand, however…’.” This structure supports students who are unused to open disagreement.

Students from collectivist cultures thrive in shared roles and cooperative structures. Group-based, problem-solving activities can foster engagement and learning efficacy.

example

In a management course, students work in multicultural teams, assuming roles like facilitator, recorder, and presenter. This team structure is scaffolded to support equitable input and leverages peer reflection to validate collective achievement.