Parrish

Patrick Parrish & Jennifer A. Linder-VanBerschot (20120 )Cultural Dimensions of Learning: Addressing the Challenges of Multicultural Instruction, , International Review of Research in Online and Distance Learning.: “”

Abstract: This article explores research into cultural differences to identify those dimensions of culture that are most likely to impact instructional situations. It presents these in the cultural dimensions of learning framework (CDLF), which describes a set of eight cultural parameters regarding social relationships, epistemological beliefs, and temporal perceptions, and illustrates their spectrums of variability as they might be exhibited in instructional situations. The article also explores the literature on instructional design and culture for guidelines on addressing the cross-cultural challenges faced by instructional providers. It suggests that these challenges can be overcome through increased awareness, culturally sensitive communication, modified instructional design processes, and efforts to accommodate the most critical cultural differences.