Exploring interactions of cultural capital with learner and instructor expectations: A case study.

Abstract

In this case study, we are able to take a close look at a situation not often encountered in the literature on ICTs in emerging economies: a private company from an emerging economy provided much-needed funding for a US NASA higher learning consortium through a contract for training and research and development in 3D visualization. This study examines this training program by asking: How do bidirectional flows of cultural capital interact with learner expectations and instructor preconceptions in the case of a cross-sector, cross-border training program? Researchers and practitioners concerned with education in a globalized context may consult findings here to deduce a set of criteria underlying these learners' expectations for this NASA branded program and preconceptions of the instructors about the learners that may help instructional designers prepare for comparable cross-cultural training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]