session Abstracts

"Delicious Innovation: How Newcomers Get a Start With Hot Meal Businesses"

Claudia Kolker

Time: 8:30am-9:15am  

Place: Star of TX Ballroom (Community Building) 

Houston is full of newcomers from around the world — and as a result, rich with time-tested strategies these newcomers being for thriving even in great adversity. Author Claudia Kolker discussed an ingenious and delicious business model used by Vietnamese refugee women when they first arrived in Houston. It’s now being used by some Afghan refugees in their own quest to thrive here . The beneficiaries now include longtime Houstonians who crave convenience, discovery and delicious home cooked meals.

"Women, Work, and Resistance in World War II"

Sandra Harvey

Time: 9:30am-10:00am

Place: Flag Room I (Community Building)

As a U.S. trained historian with a particular focus on Texas wage-earning women in World War II, I developed a very Americanized view of WWII and its impact. In an overseas study abroad chaperone position, I realized the war for women in the U.S. was not the same as the one for the women overseas. Visiting sites such as the El-De Haus in Cologne, Germany or the Natzweiler-Struthof Concentration Memorial in France challenged my Americanized view of women, work, and the war resulting in my desire to create a comparative approach in my existing U.S. and Texas History courses. This experience led me to apply for the Faculty International Exploration grant to further understand the war through the eyes of women. In 2022, I traveled overseas to The Netherlands, France and England, where I visited resistance museums, the Anne Frank House and national war museums dedicated to WWII. In the U.S. we refer to WWII as the "good" war, but the women of Europe and England, the war was not a good one but one of hardship, deprivation, pain, and death. This discussion will explore my findings and how the material I gathered will help shape a more global view of women and war.

"Resources of Content for Your International Business Course"

Erkan Kocas

Time: 9:30am-10:15am

Place: Flag Room II (Community Building)

Dr. Kocas will present online content sources for designing and enriching international business courses. His presentation will cover sources for modules, cases, videos, visuals, databases, blogs, and globalEDGE, MSU’s international business portal. He will also present ideas you can utilize while teaching international business.

"Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers with Cross-Cultural Empathy"

Terra Ruppert and Lindsay Scott

Time: 9:30am-10:00am

Place: Texas Room I (Community Building)

Intercultural communication competency includes mindfulness, cognitive flexibility, tolerance for ambiguity, behavioral flexibility, and cross-cultural empathy (Gundykunst, 2005 & Pusch, 2009). Empathy is a universal human need that cuts across global barriers, allowing us to become more informed about each other and the global issues we face. It is a propensity of human beings to look at others through their own cultural lens, which may lead us to conclude that the cultural other "is acting strangely." Developing cross-cultural empathy will build the capacity to participate in another person's experience within your imagination, think about it intellectually, and feel it emotionally (Pusch, 2009). As cross-empathy develops, people are poised to take an activist mindset. This is imperative as our social world becomes more diverse and the challenges that communities face are becoming increasingly unjust. Building bridges and breaking barriers demands that we are prepared to address increasingly complex intercultural spaces with intentional action.

This session is designed to:

1.To educate the audience on the value of cross-cultural empathy in intercultural experiences

2.To outline strategies to develop cross-cultural empathy across difference

3.To present tools for intercultural alliance building and activism.

"Any Course Can Be Internationalized: Getting Started and/or Reimagining Your IS Course"

Dana Van de Walker and Ann van Heerden

Time: 9:30am-10:15am

Place: Texas Room II (Community Building)

Participants in this workshop will learn about internationalization in a variety of disciplines (e.g., natural science, social sciences, physical education and health, CTE) with a variety of pedagogies (e.g., virtual exchange, cultural reflections, field trips, linked courses) for application in their own course(s). The session will include internationalization ideas from Ireland, Brazil, and beyond. This workshop is appropriate for faculty unfamiliar with the

International Studies (IS) designation process, along with those who currently have an IS course. In this session, faculty at the beginning stages of course internationalization will get to brainstorm creative, discipline-specific ways to bring global perspectives and applications to the classroom. Experienced faculty will have the opportunity to brainstorm innovative, discipline-specific ways to expand internationalization efforts in their current courses. This session will be led by a social sciences faculty member with extensive experience in international studies and global curriculum development, alongside a natural sciences faculty member who just started developing her IS course and is familiar with the challenges faculty new to IS designation face. Within the session, faculty will participate in two brief breakout discussions: 1) An interdisciplinary discussion around a sample course, and 2) A discipline-specific discussion around their own course. With the goal of course internationalization in mind, participants will walk away with myriad unique ideas and inspiring examples.

Learning objectives: 1) Learn about internationalization in a variety of disciplines with a variety of pedagogies for application in your own course(s), 2) Faculty new to International Studies (IS) designation- Brainstorm discipline-specific starting points for your course(s); Faculty with IS designation- Brainstorm discipline-specific ways to expand internationalization efforts in your course(s)

"Faculty International Exploration: Singapore"

Shamim Arastu

Time: 9:30am-10:00am

Place: TDC 113 (Training and Development Center)

I had an amazing opportunity to visit Singapore through the Faculty International Exploration award. The purpose of the trip was to learn about the education system, teacher training, and to immerse myself in the unique culture of Singapore. I will share my learnings from my visit to several schools as well as my visit to the National Institute of Education, the sole teacher training institute in all of Singapore. I was in awe of the skyscrapers and architectural design of the cloud forest and flower domes.

Learning Outcomes: 1. Learn about the innovative teacher training practices. 2. Explore unique culture and diversity of Singapore

"The Genesis of Veteran’s Day: The American Attack that began the End of World War I"

Craig Livingston

Time: 10:25am-11:10am

Place: Star of Texas Ballroom (Community Building)

A German offensive aimed at rupture of the British and French lines defending Paris was frustrated by an American counter-attack in July 1918. The reverse was so profound that Chancellor von Hertling observed that “the history of the world was played out in three days.” Hear Professor Craig Livingston explain how U.S. forces saved Western democracy in World War I and Veteran’s Day was founded. At 11am (The 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month) participants will observe a moment of silence while Navy veteran, Mr. Cruz Mendoza, performs taps.

Global Scholars and Honors College Panel: Being a Cultural Bridge Person

Joseph Shuales, Katharine Caruso, Ava Veselis and Dana Van de Walker

Time: 10:25am-11:10am

Place: Flag Room I (Community Building)

Conference headliner, Dr. Joseph Shaules, will lead a panel discussion with LSC Global Scholars about the experience of navigating different cultures both at home and abroad. Come and partake in the conversation.

"Developing an International Business Course: Strategies, Topics, Texts, Formats"

Ahmet Kirca

Time: 10:25am-11:10am

Place: Flag Room II

Professor Kirca will present the results of the latest Global Mindset Index Report that provides a snapshot of International Business Education at Community Colleges. His presentation will also overview curricular and non-curricular approaches to developing a global mindset in community colleges.

"Taiwan's Bilingual 2030 Initiative and the Opportunities to Build Connection"

Carolyn Ho

Time: 10:25am-11:05am

Place: Texas Room I (Community Building)

In the past decade, many East Asian countries have instituted policies to reform their education by introducing English as a medium of instruction (Walkinshaw, Fenton-Smith, & Humphreys, 2017). Among them is Taiwan. Bilingual education has been a hot topic for K-16 since the Taiwan government announced the Bilingual 2030 initiative in 2018. Although English is not a language for daily use, the initiative aims to infuse English into teaching and learning to develop a future bilingual workforce. Learning gained through international exchange is enriched by understanding the educational context of international partners. With that in mind, the purpose of the presentation is to facilitate the audience's understanding of the aforementioned emerging phenomenon through the lens of the presenter's virtual training experience with Taiwan. She will share her observations as an English Language Specialist for the State Department. In this capacity, she participated in two separate virtual teacher training projects for approximately six months in total. The projects focused on person-to-person connection and allowed for an in-depth look at teaching and learning in the K-12 and university levels. The session will summarize the design of the virtual collaborations and project outcomes. The presenter will invite the audience to discuss the implications on opportunities for building connections with Taiwan and other East Asian countries with a similar education initiative. Instant online polls and interactive boards such as Padlet will also be used for audience engagement. Attendees will walk away with suggested exchange activities for students and faculty.

Learning Objectives: 1. Gain understanding of the recent higher education initiative in Taiwan 2. Learn how virtual teacher training was conducted as a means of public diplomacy 3. Consider possible faculty and student exchange and collaboration activities

"Globally Infused Teaching: The Fully Internationalized Course"

Janice Hartgrove-Freile

Time: 10:25am-11:10am

Place: Texas Room II

This workshop will promote the idea of an internationalized course with infused global content. Infusion means that content is woven in a thoughtful and purposeful way through the course content and activities, rather than placed in isolated spots within a course. The presenter will provide examples and promote discussion of opportunities to bring a global perspective to the basic elements of a course, such as theories, as well as to specific areas within course content. Areas of specific discussion will include selection of course materials, introduction of non-Western theories, intersection of global material with specific areas of course content, incorporation of diverse viewpoints, and exploration of implications. The workshop will illustrate and discuss strategies to actively involve students in the development of global awareness, appreciation, and application of gained knowledge and perspective, including both short and longer activities in the classroom that can encourage students to apply content and perspective to global issues. In addition, we will explore ways to incorporate experiences outside of the classroom, including such strategies as interviews of ESOL students and participation in college activities that promote global awareness. Workshop content will provide illustrations from diverse disciplines and opportunities for participants to apply content to their own courses.

Learning Outcomes: Illustrate strategies to infuse global content into basic and specific course content. Illustrate and discuss ways to actively involve students in activities that promote cultural awareness, appreciation of diversity, and application of gained knowledge and perspective. Illustrate and discuss the infusion of diverse viewpoints into course content and activities.

"Windows of the World – Culture Connections"

Madulika Tandon, Amy Tate and International Students

Time: 10:30am-12pm

Place: Community Building Foyer

Take a peek inside the cultures represented by ESOL and international students at Lone Star College. At their tables, students will present photos, artifacts, and cultural tidbits about their countries. Attendees will build connections through cultural conversations and learn a useful phrase or two in different languages!

"An Interdisciplinary Approach to Reimagining Justice: The Holocaust, Slavery, and the Civil Rights Movement"

Angela Bell and Jennifer Bourgeois

Time: 11:20am-11:50am

Place: Flag Room I (Community Building)

Dr. Bell and Dr. Bourgeois utilized FIE travel funds to visit World War II, the Holocaust, and Cold War historical sites crucial to understanding alternatives to incarceration that are less punitive and more focused on rehabilitation in Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands. FIE travel funds allowed us to develop a learning community proposal, internationalize our courses, and provide visual references and stimuli for learning history for our students.

Learning Outcomes:

Share images and experiences from FIE travel (May 2019)

Demonstrate connections in American History and Criminal Justice instruction

Establish international context of both academic disciplines

"Building Connections: An integrated international perspective in the Behavioral & Social Sciences with Educational and Sociological Approaches"

Vanessa Hemingway and Barbi Seals

Time: 11:20am-11:50am

Place: Flag Room II (Community Building)

Integration of experiences from Professional Development: Ireland 2022 through an international designated course framework from knowledge to implementation of global studies in the classroom through the lenses of professors of behavioral and social sciences.

Learning Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate awareness of and sensitivity to other cultures' norms, practices, and actions while at the same time recognizing, acknowledging, and appreciating individual difference. 2. Reflect on personal values, ethical commitments, and social positions through engagement with diverse cultures, worldviews, and experiences

"Breaking Barriers: Experience Efficiency with Minimal Facilities from Faculty International Exploration"

Vidushi Prasad

Time: 11:20am-11:50am

Place: Texas Room I (Community Building)

In India, there are not as great resources as in America. Due to the lack of school facilities, and infrastructure, the teaching method is stricter and dictated. Learning with hardship and competing for success in everyday life teaches us to be efficient with minimal resources. That efficiency with excellent resources in America will prove to be great results. Still, the curriculum in India is thorough and achieves remarkable milestones in the process of learning. Dental education in India is intense, challenging, and concise in 5 years, right after 12th grade. One must undergo a bachelor's degree first in Malaysia and Korea to be admitted to such a course. So, where is the difference? Maybe in India, the basics of biology have already been taught before 12th grade. The curriculum, the way it is designed, is a thorough knowledge that remains with the student for a more extended period because it is taught from basics clearing each concept over a more extended period. Learning takes time. As per research, the attention span in humans is just 20 min; shorter classes with intervals provide the mind to achieve a settling time of newly gained knowledge. In India, in medical school lecture period is only 45 min. Whereas dictated teaching creates fear in the minds of the learner, and it is not a healthy environment to learn and grow. There has been research by Yun-Zi-Liu that the activation of the stress system causes 75 to 90% of diseases. The teaching method used in LSC is friendly. Now, having experience with other teaching methods and curriculum, better knowledge can be provided to students.

Learning Outcomes: Achieving efficiency with minimal facilities in other parts of the world and recognizing what can be achieved with the provided resources. Bringing the diverse Faculty experience from India, South Korea, and Malaysia to the classroom Breaking barriers guiding LSC students with world-class knowledge by providing the best of both worlds

"Reaching Across the World: Virtual Exchange Tips, Tools and Experiences"

Shamim Arastu, Carolyn Ho, Stephanie Krueger and Laura Taggett

Time: 11:20am-12:05pm

Place: Texas Room II (Community Building)

In this interactive workshop, participants will learn about virtual exchange opportunities in a variety of disciplines with colleagues from around the world. The goal of this session is to foster new and engaging virtual exchange opportunities for students across the Lone Star campuses.

Learning Outcomes:

Learn about virtual exchange opportunities

Engage with the virtual exchange tool kit.

Interact with faculty who have virtual exchange experience

Cultural Competency Workshop for Students (Intro Session)

Katharine Caruso and Margaret Jelinek Lewis

Time: 11:20am-12:05pm

Place: TDC 102 Boardroom (Training and Development Center)

Explore how we think about culture and cultural group and learn about elements you might consider in defining your own cultural identity. Through engaging discussions and personal examples, we will explore what skills are needed to work and learn across cultures how to function effectively in a variety of cultural contexts. If you attended a Cultural Competency Workshop this summer at either a Global Scholars or Honors orientation, please go to Cultural Competency: Learning to interact in a multicultural workplace instead.

Cultural Competency: Learning to Interact in a Multicultural Workplace

Michael Maningas and Ava Veselis

Time: 11:20am-12:05pm

Place: TDC 102 Boardroom (Training and Development Center)

In this student-focused workshop, participants will not only deepen their understanding of cultural competency and how it impacts our school and work environment, but they will also understand how cultural dimensions, such as time, relationships, power, communication, and uncertainty avoidance, can impact how we interact with others through an exploration of the typical American workplace juxtaposed against other cultures.

“Beyond Feel-Good Approaches to Intercultural Understanding: Insights from Brain-Mind Sciences”

Joseph Shaules

Time: 12:45pm-1:30pm

Place: Texas Room I (Community Building)

Deep intercultural understanding requires more than a slogan or philosophical stance. Fortunately, recent research in brain and mind sciences is providing fresh insights on how to go beyond feel-good forms of intercultural education. This talk will explore how culture shapes our cognitive processes—thinking, emotion and identities—and the “natural biases” that often get in the way of intercultural understanding. These insights point the way towards pedagogy that leads to deeper forms of intercultural understanding. 

“Tasting, Transporting and Adding Seasoning: Adapting Smart Practices From Other Traditions”

Claudia Kolker

Time: 1:45pm-2:30pm

Place: Star of TX Ballroom (Community Building)

Participants will discuss questions such as What does it take to fully savor smart practices we admire in our friends and neighbors from different cultures? What is the conversation about cultural appropriation about? How do we avoid hurting anyone while admiring and learning their innovations? What are some examples in history of smart practices that have been adopted and adapted by outside groups? What are some examples of great cultural ideas that you’ve adopted – or shared? What ideas from the Immigrant Advantage intrigue you – and make you wonder how you could adapt for yourself?

"Education for an Intercultural Mind: Beyond Feel Good Approaches to Difference and Diversity"

Joseph Shaules

Time: 1:45pm-3:00pm

Place: Flag Room I (Community Building)

This workshop introduces the Intercultural Mind approach to intercultural education pedagogy. It is informed by recent research in cultural psychology that reveals how culture shapes cognition, emotion and identity at deep levels of the self. These insights allow for an empirically grounded approach to intercultural education—one that takes us beyond feel-good or ideological approaches. This workshop will introduce the Developmental Model of Linguaculture Learning (DMLL), a learning model grounded in these insights. This workshop will be interactive with opportunities to discuss the challenges and concerns of participants. Sample materials will be made available. N.B. Participating faculty will receive myWorkshops credit from Organization Development.

Learning outcomes:

- learn how culture shapes cognition, emotion and identity at deep levels of the self

- become familiar with the Developmental Model of Linguaculture Learning (DMLL)

- experience learning activities based on the DMLL

- discuss ways these ideas can be put into practice in different contexts

"Hurricanes & Volcanoes: Mapping Natural Hazards in the Eastern Caribbean"

Buck Buchanan

Time: 1:45pm-2:15pm

Place: Flag Room II

2017 was a devastating hurricane season both in Texas and the Eastern Caribbean. This presentation is the outcome of a Faculty International Exploration (FIE) grant award to explore a region of the Eastern Caribbean impacted by natural hazards. The project focused on Category 5 Hurricanes Irma and Maria-affected communities in Antigua and Barbuda, and communities impacted by volcanic eruptions on the island of Montserrat with the goal of documenting resilience, redevelopment, and recovery. The first half of this presentation focuses on human-redevelopment and environmental recovery stories of Antigua and Barbuda in an effort to relate regions along 'Hurricane Alley' (ex. Texas Gulf Coast and the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles) and connect two narratives that share the same vulnerability to natural hazards: hurricanes, tropical storms, and flooding. The second half of the presentation focuses on the impacts of volcanic eruptions on the island nation of Montserrat and relates the modern "Caribbean Pompeii" to ancient Pompeii and Mt Vesuvius sites my students and I visit in our LSC Italy Study Abroad program. The presentation also includes strategies used to internationalize curriculum in Geography (GEOG) and Geographic Information Systems (GISC) with experiences and field data collected during FIE travels.

Learning Outcomes: 1) Participants will learn about the impact of natural hazards on island communities in the Eastern Caribbean. 2) Participants will acquire an understanding of applications of geospatial technology (ex. drone mapping) and case-use documenting environmental disasters. 3) Participants will learn how this Faculty International Exploration (FIE) grant experience will be used to internationalized curriculum in both academic and workforce programs (ex. Geography (GEOG) and Geographic Information Systems (GISC) degree/certificate program), and instructional applications of data collected in the field.

"Comparing Higher Education Landscapes: How Fulbright Provides Valuable Lessons for Sharing Best Practices Between French and American Systems of Education"

Claire Phillips

Time: 1:45pm-2:15pm

Place: Texas Room I (Community Building)

Many educators (including the presenter) are not well versed in the educational structures of other countries and how they reflect that country's culture and history. Claire Phillips (a dean at Lone Star College Cy Fair) took advantage of her Fulbright Higher Education administrator's award to research the difference between the French and US educational systems and not only discovered differences but best practices of each system that might benefit practitioners in both countries. By triangulating data (the limited research on the topic, her Fulbright observations, and the input of French professionals who reviewed a draft of a white paper she is writing on the topic) Claire shares what we may learn from each other.

Learning Outcomes: 1. acquaint participants on the differences (and similarities) between French and American higher education systems 2. share best practices seen between the two higher ed systems

"Applying for an International Studies Designation for Your Class"

Shuang Xu

Time: 1:45pm-2:30pm

Place: Texas Room II (Community Building)

Prof. Xu, International Faculty Fellow at LSC-Kingwood, will guide participants through the International Studies designation application process at Lone Star College. N.B. Participating faculty will receive myWorkshops credit from Organization Development.

Learning Outcomes:

1. learn the process of submitting the International Studies application

2. Walk through the online International Studies application form

3. learn the requirement of the supplemental documentation as part of the IS application

4. Review sample successful applications for the IS designation

5. Q&A on any topics regarding IS designation and its process.

"Internationalizing Math Classes"

Nathan Fortenbury

Time: 1:45pm-2:15pm

Place: TDC 113 (Training and Development Center)

The presentation will showcase topics in mathematics that pair with Global Learning outcomes required by the Global Scholars program. The topics in math showcased will include Egyptian hieroglyphics and linear equations, solving systems of equations and Fang Cheng Shu method, and the application of parabolic equations in the construction of the Sagrada Familia Cathedral. The presentation will continue with how each of these topics satisfy Global Learning outcome needed to achieve an international Studies designation for Math courses, and how each topic is integrated into a standard Mathematics course. The final phase of the presentation will include an example of the application process for an IS designation for a mathematics course. The final phase of the presentation will be open for discussion and questions to the presenter.

Learning Outcomes: 1) To showcase topics in Mathematics that pair with Global Learning Outcomes. 2) To Explore standard Mathematics course and how they integrate with Global Learning Outcomes