Getting to know you: using music to gain awareness of intercultural perspectives through technology

Abstract

Access to mobile communication technology is a characteristic that makes today’s learners different and presents challenges and opportunities to develop twenty-first century skills in a globalized society. This qualitative study involved students and teachers using synchronous and asynchronous web-based social networks and recording software to communicate and compose music. Dialogue was captured and analyzed for levels of interaction and mindsets to determine if such a collaborative could cultivate an awareness of others’ perspectives and the feasibility of using social networks in K-12 educational settings for this purpose. There were strong indications that global reach projects using technologies in K-12 education do have the potential for students to become aware of others’ perspectives; however changes in educational policy are needed.