Autoethnography for Outstanding Scholars on Exchange
Standing
Undergraduate
Faculty Sponsor
Tim Brunet
Proposal
Going on exchange expands student world views and provides reflective moments for students (Roy et al, 2019). This project aims to provide students opportunities to be epistemic contributors in higher education communities and within higher education literature about international student exchanges. Our goal is to develop an autoethnography template for students to reflect on their exchange experience, bringing forth novel perspectives, using the Capability Approach and Kolb’s learning cycle (Brunet et al, 2020; Kolb & Kolb, n.d.). When the researcher completes an autoethnography, a better awareness of identity, others and culture, plus the connection between is established (Change, 2008). This would open an opportunity for OS students to become scholarly contributors, through research, curriculum development or mentorship, to the exchange experience. Upon completion of the autoethnography, students will be able to structure their exchange experience to share with future students and employers, as well as administrators and the general public.
Proposal Description
This project proposal is part of the Outstanding Scholars placement for the winter 2023 semester, led by Dr. Tim Brunet. Since our team is currently on exchange, our points of view are an asset to this project. This project is currently ongoing and will continue until late April. Our presentation for the UWill Discover conference would be an oral presentation, exhibiting the benefits of an exchange placement and a self-reflection (Roy et al, 2019; Chang, 2008). In addition, it would highlight the proposed self-reflection and explain how it would be completed (Brunet et al, 2020; Kolb & Kolb, n.d.). We aim to encourage more students to go on international exchange and to further develop this project. For one of our authors, Sam Blackwell, the initial decision to go on exchange was influenced by a desire to travel and explore. For our other author, Deborah Laze, her decision was influenced by her desire to enrich her knowledge of different cultures and languages. The project could aid students on their journey of being and becoming as research assistants, shifting from passive workers and learning skills to active researchers exploring their understanding of world views. The hybrid conference will allow Sam to present live from Wales and Deborah to present live from France. This is an important presentation for us, as it provides an opportunity for our friends, family and other international networks to tune in regardless of their time zone.
Autoethnography for Outstanding Scholars on Exchange
Going on exchange expands student world views and provides reflective moments for students (Roy et al, 2019). This project aims to provide students opportunities to be epistemic contributors in higher education communities and within higher education literature about international student exchanges. Our goal is to develop an autoethnography template for students to reflect on their exchange experience, bringing forth novel perspectives, using the Capability Approach and Kolb’s learning cycle (Brunet et al, 2020; Kolb & Kolb, n.d.). When the researcher completes an autoethnography, a better awareness of identity, others and culture, plus the connection between is established (Change, 2008). This would open an opportunity for OS students to become scholarly contributors, through research, curriculum development or mentorship, to the exchange experience. Upon completion of the autoethnography, students will be able to structure their exchange experience to share with future students and employers, as well as administrators and the general public.