Interdisciplinary and Cross-Cultural Literacy: An Activity Increasing Business and Nursing Students Cultural and Health Care Industry Awareness

Abstract

This article describes an experiential learning assignment encompassing an activity used by three faculty members in two different academic disciplines, Nursing and International Business. This assignment has proven to be mutually beneficial for students and teachers in achieving their course learning objectives. This assignment can be used as a template for other instructors interested in cross cultural and / or cross disciplinary collaboration. In its current form, this assignment involves a 300 level course for students studying International Business and a 200 level course for nursing students studying Relational Practice and communication with others. The activity concerns the assigning of students into small working groups whose members are representative of different cultures and different academic disciplines. This mission requires students to meet (out of regular class time) to discuss and share their knowledge and perceptions of their own culture and the health care industry in their home countries. Students may participate in this activity regardless of their level of knowledge regarding the other's culture. Participating in the activity provides students the opportunity to discuss characteristics of their own culture and country and to learn about other countries from fellow students. The activity encourages break downs in stereotyping, and to generate confidence in communicating with others that may seem 'different'.