Telling stories to travel

I originally posted this article on LinkedIn.

While I was completing my undergraduate studies, I had a professor in Political Science that taught with stories. Yes, he would have slides and other visual media, but he would contextualize it by telling applicable stories. The approach fascinated me, not just because I could remember the things he taught during tests and exams, but also because it gave a “realness” to what I was studying. Over the last few years I have come to the realization that the tool of storytelling is also important within the field of international education. We need to use it during our pre-departure orientations; and we kind of sneak it in there. (*learningfrompastmistakes) I want to highlight two reasons why storytelling is important in the field of international education: firstly, it helps students to think about their upcoming experience (to imagine possibilities) and secondly, it induces certain emotions within students which helps to bring certain points across.

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Study Abroad Sprint, A Component of the Pre-Departure process

“But bringing a vision to life is difficult.” (p. 6)

Sprint - How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days

I originally posted this article on LinkedIn.

The last year or two we have been tweaking our orientation processes for our outgoing students, so that it becomes more practical and strengths-based focused. It has become important for us to move away from just the general pre-departure presentation where we talk about ‘dos and don’ts (*learningfrompastmistakes). It does not mean that the latter does not have a place within the general pre-departure process, but it cannot be the only thing that is done to prepare students going abroad. (It took me a some time to realize this.) Also, I am of the opinion that students have the skills and abilities to travel abroad, we just need to make them aware of it and nurture their confidence and latent skills.

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Things I have been reading

Dora from The Dreaming (Second issue from the Dreaming)

It is has been a while since I have written something, so I thought I should just give an overview of what I have been reading. Recently, I worked through the Sandman collection and that has probably changed my life. I have written about it here. I started with the new issues from The Sandman Universe, and have specifically focused on The Dreaming. My favourite character in The Sandman collection is Delirium, and it seems I already have a favourite in The Dreaming, namely Dora (see featured image). We don’t know much about Dora yet, but I am looking forward learning more about Dora. Things we already know is that Dora can move between the different realms, she knows things about people and sometimes transform… Anyway, this is not a post about the Sandman, or Dora. Continue reading “Things I have been reading” →

The Crowd, Social Media and Study Abroad

I originally posted this article on LinkedIn.

The book:

I recently read the book by Alex Daly, The Crowdsourceress: Get Smart, Get Funded, and Kickstart Your Next Big Idea (2017). It is really an amazing book, and I realized again that using social media is one thing, but engaging through social media is a completely different matter all together, the latter being the more impactful aspect of social media usage. I definitely recommend that you read the book – it also includes practical tools and tips.

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