ERIC Number: ED528137
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 175
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: ISBN-978-1-1245-7502-5
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Use of Web 2.0 Technology to Help Students in High School Overcome Ethnocentrism: A Cross-Cultural Case Study
Union, Craig D.
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Walden University
Ethnocentrism is a condition that influences the development of prejudice and stereotypes of one's own ethnic group (the ingroup) towards foreigners (the outgroup) based on a foreigner's ethnic group or background. When left unmonitored in a K-12 environment, ethnocentrism can perpetuate prejudice and stereotypes against certain students in a classroom. This study examined working relationships of students with other students, and whether the use of Web 2.0 technologies by digital natives relates to the level of ethnocentricity in cross-cultural classrooms. The conceptual framework for this study drew on Levinson's concept of ethnocentrism, which highlights dominant ingroups and how ingroups react negatively toward outgroups; Papert's constructionism, which recognizes that people learn more effectively when they engage in constructing personally meaningful artifacts such as forms of technology; and Friedman's concept of the world as flat, which exemplifies how people are uploading their files to the world, thereby leveling the playing field. This study used a case study approach and an analytic induction method data analysis strategy. Primary data sources were from interviews of classroom coordinators and online wiki discussions of students. Findings indicated that the use of Web 2.0 impeded student ethnocentrism and created positive working relationships among students during the Net Generation Education and Horizon projects. This study contributes to positive social change by providing guidance to administrators, curriculum designers, and classroom teachers on how using Web 2.0 can help internationalize teaching and learning, which can help reduce student ethnocentrism. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Elementary Secondary Education, Ethnic Groups, Ethnocentrism, Data Analysis, Internet, Educational Technology, Computer Uses in Education, High School Students, Cross Cultural Studies, Social Bias, Racial Bias, Stereotypes, Peer Relationship, Case Studies, Interviews, Computer Mediated Communication
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A