Student Learning Abroad : What Our Students Are Learning, What Theyrsquo;re Not, and What We Can Do about It

A central purpose of this book is to question the claims commonly made about the educational benefits of study abroad. Traditional metrics of enrollment increases and student self report and practices of structural immersion are being questioned as educators voice growing uncertainty about what students are or are not in fact learning abroad. This book looks into whether these criticisms are justified-and what can be done if they are. The contributors to this book offer the beginnings of a counter-narrative to common views that learning takes place simply through students studying elsewhere, or through their enrolling in programs that take steps structurally to immerse them in the experience abroad. Student Learning Abroadreviews the dominant paradigms of study abroad; marshals rigorous research findings, with emphasis on recent studies that offer convincing evidence about what undergraduates are or are not learning; brings to bear the latest knowledge about human learning and development that raises questions about the very foundations of current theory and practice; and presents six examples of study abroad courses or programs whose interventions apply this knowledge. This book provokes readers to re-consider long-held assumptions, beliefs and practices about teaching and learning in study abroad and to reexamine the design and delivery of their programs. In doing so, it provides a new foundation for responding to the question that may faculty and staff are now asking: What do I need to know, and what do I need to be able to do, to help my students learn and develop more effectively abroad? Contributors: Laura Bathurst Janet Bennett Milton Bennett Gabriele Weber Bosley Andrew D. Cohen John Engle Lilli Engle Mitchell Hammer David Kolb Bruce La Brack Kris Hemming Lou Catherine Menyhart R. Michael Paige Angela Passarelli Adriana Medina-López Portillo Meghan Quinn Jennifer Meta Robinson Riikka Salonen Victor Savicki Douglas Stuart Michael Vande Berg James Zull

Michael Vande Berg is vice president for Academic Affairs at the Council on International Educational Exchange, a founding board member of the Forum on Education Abroad, and recipient of The Forum's 2012 Peter A. Wollitzer award. R. Michael Paige is professor of international and intercultural education in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development at the University of Minnesota. He was the recipient of the Peter A. Wollitzer award in 2007. Kris Hemming Lou has been director of international education and associate professor of international studies at Willamette University since 2003, and is CEO of Hemming Weber, LLC, which provides intercultural consulting services to educational institutions.