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University of Florida

Mobility From Different Cultural Perspectives


UF Faculty: Stephanie Stine
Department: Department of Statistics
College: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Partner Faculty: Wojciech Stiller
Department: Department of Business and Economics
Partner Institution: HWR Berlin – Berlin School of Economics and Law
Title: Mobility From Different Cultural Perspectives
Project Description:

Students from UF and HWR Berlin will work together in groups to analyze the issues surrounding mobility.  A questionnaire will be used to collect the data.  The group discussions should lead to decisions as to which aspects, including culture-specific aspects, should be included in the data analysis.  Each student will create and record a two minute presentation of their analysis.

The aim of the course is to combine intercultural experience with the development of technical skills.
Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the project, students will:

  • Show increased awareness of selected topics in an intercultural context such as mobility.
  • Make use of a questionnaire to collect data.
  • Identify variables for investigation.
  • Compile a data set.
  • Recall the basics of data analysis.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of descriptive statistics. 
  • Utilize simple linear regression to analyze data and identify correlations.
Participating Countries: Germany
Number of Participants: 140 UF Students, 50 from HWR Berlin
Discipline: Statistics and Data Science
UF Course Code & Name: STA3024 - Introduction to Statistics 2
Project Duration: 4 weeks
Activity Type(s):
  • Student-to-Student Dialogue
  • Student-to-Student Project
Time allotted to each activity:
  • Synchronous Activities: Two 50 minute class meetings, one at the start of the project and one at the end.
  • Asynchronous Activities: Group discussions, around 2 hours over the 4 weeks.
  • Individual Work: 1 hour/week
Technology Tools:
  • Zoom
  • Tivian
  • ThreadBox on VoiceThread
  • Excel
  • JMP/Minitab
Sequence of Activities:
  • Icebreaker Activity:

At the start of the project, there will be a synchronous meeting with the two classes to explain the project.  The data collection survey on mobility will be given at this time.

The students will be split alphabetically by last name into ten groups of around 19 students (14 UF and 5 HWR Berlin).  A ThreadBox on the VoiceThread platform will be created  for each group.  In each ThreadBox will be a PowerPoint with three icebreaker questions.  These questions are:

  1. Give one interesting fact about your hometown or country.
  2. What is your favorite hobby?
  3. Name somewhere you would like to travel. What would you like to do or visit while at this place?

Students can answer each question either with text, voice only, or image/voice. 

  • Collaboration Activity:

The students will work in their assigned groups using the data set on mobility.  Each group will be provided with some questions that they can use as a starting point for analyzing the data.  The groups will meet asynchronously one or two times to discuss which variables on mobility should be analyzed, what influences their decisions to choose these variables, while also considering cultural differences.  During the meeting, the group will perform some initial data analysis using the chosen variables and discuss the results.

Since the  groups will be large, each individual student will produce a 2-3 minute presentation of the analysis and results.  This presentation will be recorded and uploaded to the group ThreadBox.  Once all presentations are uploaded, students will watch and give feedback on three other group members' presentations.

  • Reflection Activity:

At the end of the project, there will be a synchronous meeting with the two classes to view some presentations and for students to give overall feedback on their experience.  As part of the feedback, students will reflect on the following.

The intercultural aspects and whether there is a difference in mobility between UF students and HWR in Berlin students.

Their experience working in groups across different time zones.

Their experience meeting and learning about students from another country.

What worked well and what could be improved for future VE projects.