This topic is about exploring deep cultural differences from a culture-general approach and how those differences influence the way we live, think, and relate to others.

Hofstede’s Insights  Website

Learning Objective: Learners will be able to 1) describe Hofstede’s cultural value dimensions, 2) explain trends in values across different national cultural contexts, and 3) compare/contrast different national cultures with their home country culture with regard to these value dimensions.

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Intercultural Communication: High and Low-Context Cultures

Article

Learning Objective: Learners will be able to explain the characteristics of high and low-context cultures and its impact on communication styles.

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The Great Game of Power   Classroom activity   30-60 minutes  12-50 participants

Learning Objectives: Learners will be able to 1) become aware of how power varies depending on culture, context, perspective, and belief systems, and 2) increase their understanding of how power influences any and every situation.

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The Form   Classroom activity   15 minutes  2-50 participants

Learning Objectives: Learners will 1) briefly experience dissonance and discomfort, 2) gain an awareness of cultural differences, and 3) begin to develop strategies for dealing with difference.

This topic includes resources to facilitate learners’ understanding of their cultural identity.

Personal Identity Wheel   Classroom activity  10-15 minutes  Individual or small/large group

Learning Objective: Learners will be able to 1) find common ground with peers and build community and 2) interrogate how one’s personal identity are or are not informed by one’s social identities.

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Social Identity Wheel   Classroom activity   20 – 30 minutes   Any number of participants

Learning Objective: Learners will be able to 1) critically consider one’s own identities in different social contexts, 2) consider how privilege operates to normalize and give power to some identities over others, and 3) build empathy and community with their peers of shared and different identities.

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Mapping Social Identity Timeline   Classroom activity  20-30 minutes  Individual or small/large group

Learning Objective: Learners will be able to 1) discuss the ways their identities were learned and policied throughout their lives, 2) challenge normalized policing of gender, sexuality, and race, and 3) discuss the different messages they received about their identities based on the groups they belong to.

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The Spectrum Activity, Questions of Identity   Classroom activity  60+ minutes  Small or large group

Learning Objective: Learners will be able to 1) critically consider one’s own identities in different social contexts, 2) consider how privilege operates to normalize and give power to some identities over others, and 3) build empathy and community with their peers of shared and different identities.

This topic explores frameworks and strategies for successful intercultural communication.

Brene Brown on Empathy   Video  3 minutes  Individual or small/large group

Learning Objective: Learners will be able to compare and contrast empathy and sympathy

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Disagree Better: Empathy Gym   Classroom activity  1 hour  Small or large group

Learning Objective: Learners will be able to 1) describe the negative and positive aspects of empathy and 2) develop empathy for those who are different from them.

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Barnga   Classroom activity  1 hr 15 mins  16+ participants

Learning Objective: Learners will be able to 1) interrogate assumptions about group norms and 2) critically analyze the origin of norms and their usefulness in new contexts.

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Dialogue Blocker Activity   Classroom discussion 60+ minutes  Small or large group

Learning Objective: Learners will be able to 1) recognize common dialogue blockers, why they’re used, and their impact on conversation and 2) develop a list of ground rules that are supportive of thoughtful dialogue and inclusivity.

Resources included in this topic help learners navigate complex cultural differences to resolve them using creative problem-solving.

Broken Squares   Classroom activity   30+ minutes  5-30 participants

Learning Objective: Learners will be able to 1) recognize the difficulty of cross-cultural communication and the importance of cooperation and 2) relate to students who do not speak the dominant language

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Resource Name

Learning Objective: XYZ

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Resources in this topic expressly address issues of privilege, power, and oppression, although many of them also encompass additional topics listed above.

Implicit Bias Module Series   Text/Video Modules   Approx. 40 minutes   Individual

Learning Objectives: Learners will be able to 1) describe how implicit biases are formed and how they are differentiated from explicit bias, 2) summarize how implicit associations affect daily personal and professional life, 3) assess one’s own implicit biases through completion of the Implicit Associations Test, and 4) apply strategies to mitigate unwanted bias on an individual and institutional level.

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Unequal Resources   Classroom activity   Approx. 45 minutes   10-25 participants

Learning Objective: Examine attitudes towards and expectations of people with different economic backgrounds

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Perfectly Logical Explanation   Classroom activity   20 – 30 minutes   Small or large group

Learning Objective: Learners will be able to 1) discuss the weight and power of dominant narratives, 2) discuss how dominant narratives are political and biased, and 3) rigorously interrogate dominant narratives.

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School You, Inc.   Classroom activity   60+ minutes   Small or large group

Learning Objective: Learners will be able to 1) discuss the concept of institutional oppression and 2) reflect on how oppressive institutional norms are perpetuated and evade critique