Title: Along came a swagman: teaching Australian university curricula and methods in Southern Italy

Authors: Francesco Sofo, Michelle Berzins, Salvatore Ammirato, Antonio P. Volpentesta

Addresses: Faculty of Education, University of Canberra, Room 5B78, ACT 2601, Australia. ' Faculty of Education, University of Canberra, Room 5C16, ACT 2601, Australia. ' GIUDALab, Department of Electronics, Computer Science and Systems, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 42/C, Arcavacata di Rende (CS), 87036 Italy. ' GIUDALab, Department of Electronics, Computer Science and Systems, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, 42/C, Arcavacata di Rende (CS), 87036 Italy

Abstract: The development of critical thinking skills within certain individuals can be enhanced through international and intercultural experiences (Vincenti, 2001). To test this assertion the effects of exposing a group of Italian university students to a curriculum delivered in a week-long intensive format by a visiting Australian university professor were measured. A pre- and post-delivery survey on critical thinking skills found statistically significant self-reported improvements on three of the 12 items of the critical thinking inventory (Sofo, 2007). These improvements include a marked difference in perceived ability to move beyond lower-order cognitive skills such as knowing and comprehending to actively applying core and higher-order skills including the ability to identify assumptions, gain fresh perspectives and systematically explore different perspectives as part of a team. Beyond the specific items tested within the critical thinking inventory, the students also experienced cross-cultural facilitation which incorporated andragogical teaching methods with a discipline alternate to their own.

Keywords: critical thinking; university students; andragogical teaching methods; Australia; Italy; intercultural experiences; cross-cultural facilitation; culture; higher education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIIE.2009.030103

International Journal of Innovation in Education, 2009 Vol.1 No.1, pp.51 - 66

Published online: 10 Dec 2009 *

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