1.4 The learning journey

Participants in our online course are likely to have differing experiences, varying degrees of cultural knowledge, as well as diverse needs, backgrounds and available time. This is why the course is thoughtfully structured in a way that accommodates individualised learning journeys. The following illustration visually illustrates the flexibility within the course design. It shows that participants can either focus on specific topics, or alternatively may wish to work through the sessions one by one. Session one and two serve as foundational pillars, providing the theoretical background on culture and interculturality. Sessions five and six extend this groundwork to encompass communication and intercultural communication. While we strongly recommend the inclusion of these pivotal sessions in the learning journey, the remaining sessions offer a degree of adaptability. Participants can interchange, omit, or engage with them individually. The image also highlights that while some participants may want to take the journey individually, others may wish to complete the tasks as a pair or in a group. In this way we have accommodated diverse learning preferences. With this in mind, it is up to both instructors and learners to choose the most suitable learning paths that align with individual and collective objectives.

Illustration: Marie Seeberger (www.behance.net/marieseeberger) CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 license

Click on the image for a larger view

In your role as instructor, you are therefore invited to curate a tailored learning journey depending on your participants’ needs and wishes. Session one and two “Culture” and “Interculturality” as well as session five and six on “Communication” and “Intercultural Communication” serve as the two main pillars around which individual pathways of the journey can be designed. Even though these main pillars represent a fairly theoretical background, in general the course follows a very practical approach.