{"id":6772,"date":"2012-02-21T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2012-02-21T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalizationpartners.com\/2012\/02\/21\/challenges-of-elearning-localization-with-synchronous-elearning\/"},"modified":"2021-07-29T11:42:24","modified_gmt":"2021-07-29T11:42:24","slug":"challenges-of-elearning-localization-with-synchronous-elearning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalizationpartners.com\/2012\/02\/21\/challenges-of-elearning-localization-with-synchronous-elearning\/","title":{"rendered":"Challenges of eLearning Localization with Synchronous eLearning"},"content":{"rendered":"

As mentioned in our previous two blogs, there are cultural limitations in asynchronous learning platforms that can inhibit the achievement of equitable learning outcomes. We first discussed the online platforms, such as Blackboard<\/a> and WebCTused by many universities. Organizations use these to present content and to manage the learning function.\u00a0 We also discussed eLearning localization<\/a> and cultural challenges in self-paced courses, which require instructional designers to emulate the ‘live’ environment without the presence of an instructor.<\/p>\n

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Today, we’ll discuss the localization challenges in the synchronous environment typically manifested in webinars.\u00a0 Webinars are ‘live’ events in which the presenter can choose to lecture to the audience or to interact with them.\u00a0 Examples of webinar platforms are LiveMeeting, Webex, Vyew, etc. In addition, we can include similar synchronous communication tools like Skype in this category, although they are often not as robust with respect to interactivity features.\u00a0 Some of the localization challenges are similar to those found in the asynchronous environments.\u00a0 For example, the content needs to be relevant, contextualized, and in a language the targeted learners can easily understand. Instructional approaches still need to be culturally inclusive, which we’ll revisit in this blog.<\/p>\n

However, in webinars, we have additional challenges.\u00a0 First, and of greatest concern to educators, is the challenge of designing the course in a way that is inclusive for members of all cultures.\u00a0 Second, we want our facilitators\/instructors to have highly developed cultural skills so they can effectively communicate with members of other cultures.\u00a0 Finally, we need to ensure that the platform is technologically accessiblein other countries.<\/p>\n

Course Design and eLearning Localization<\/h4>\n

The features of webinar platforms inform many aspects of course design.\u00a0 For example, instructors typically present content in a lecture format supported by PowerPoint slides.\u00a0 A lecture format can be very appealing to non-native English speakers because there is limited interaction with the speaker and the PowerPoint slides can support what the speaker is saying.\u00a0 Thus, editing and localizing both the lecture and the slides are important cultural adaptation techniques. For more information about best practices to optimize your PowerPoint documents for translation check PowerPoint Translation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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The instructor can further engage the learners by using polls, chat, whiteboards, or sharing (files, applications, media, or internet sites).\u00a0 While polling is helpful for gathering information, opinions, and attitudes from participants, we recommend a cultural review to ensure clear language usage and to avoid culturally inappropriate questions.\u00a0 The chat feature provides another way to communicate with the instructor and with classmates.\u00a0 The benefit of chat is that it allows non-native English speakers to participate without speaking.\u00a0 The challenge of chat is that these same participants must be able to type well – and often, fast – in a language other than their native one.\u00a0 If you’ve ever tried that, you know it’s difficult!\u00a0 Thus, we recommend several techniques for using chat that overcomes these barriers.\u00a0 Whiteboards allow instructors and participants to collaborate on drawings, lists, and so forth.\u00a0 They present the same challenges encountered when using chat.\u00a0 Lastly, the webinar sharing features are more likely to create technical challenges rather than cultural ones, so we’ll discuss those below.<\/p>\n

In contrast to the lecture approach, most webinar platforms offer many opportunities to interact and collaborate.\u00a0 For example, breakout rooms allow participants to work on tasks in small groups, in an electronic version of the way it’s done in face-to-face classrooms.\u00a0 However, many learners in non-U.S. cultures will be unfamiliar with this approach and\/or hesitant to participate.\u00a0 For example, learners from hierarchical cultures expect the instructor to be the expert and, subsequently, they do not understand the value of a typical American approach to building knowledge and skills using collaborative activities.\u00a0 In addition, using such activities requires concise instructions.\u00a0 Thus, a cultural analysis of the instructional approach can offer ‘best practices’ and approaches to using webinar collaboration techniques.<\/p>\n

Cultural Competence in providing translation services<\/h4>\n

If you have ever learned a second language, you are familiar with the challenge of listening to someone speak in a non-native language.\u00a0 What helps us, as learners, is to be presented with simple, well-constructed language supported by gestures, tone, and inflection.\u00a0 In fact, if you think about it, you have probablyanalyzed the essence of a conversation in an unfamiliar language – perhaps while watching a movie – in simply by watching the gestures and registering the speakers’ tone and inflection!\u00a0 Thus, using these in webinars contributes to the learners’ understanding of your content.\u00a0 Unfortunately, most American instructors are unaware or forgetful of this need, especially in the online environment where one cannot see other participants!\u00a0 As a translation agency<\/a>, we cannot control how your instructors speak, but we can edit content to ensure ‘fast digestion’ by non-native English speakers.\u00a0 We can also recommend, via a cultural analysis, how to prepare your instructors for the cross-cultural online environment.<\/p>\n

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In fact, that leads us to two other skills required of online facilitators: the ability to detect cultural issues and the ability to mediate communications between learners from different cultures.\u00a0 An online instructor needs to recognize, for example, that the learners in China are probably not participating in a group activity because of cultural and language issues; or, that the students in the United Arab Emirates were not cheating on the final exam; instead, they were collaborating with members of their ‘in-group’ to succeed.\u00a0 The instructor also needs to provide opportunities for members of all cultures to communicate their ideas.\u00a0 For example, American learners can easily overpower those from Asian cultures simply because Americans have more direct communication styles.\u00a0 It becomes the instructor’s responsibility to offer other venues of communication in the webinar.\u00a0 With a cultural analysis, we can recommend approaches that specifically align to your learners’ cultural needs and preferences. For more information about culture correctness and the online consumer check out our white papers on Website Globalization and E-Business<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Technological Concerns and professional localization services<\/h4>\n

We mentioned earlier that webinar platforms could present technological issues.\u00a0 These can occur domestically, but are more prevalent in an international environment.\u00a0 In many cases, the voice-over-IP (VOIP) provided within the webinar platform to support internet-based conversations is not supported by end-user technologies or by international infrastructure; nor is the use of webcams or streaming media.\u00a0 The use of phone lines often poses additional expense to the learners.\u00a0 You as the customer should be aware of these issues and test for them.\u00a0 We cannot rebuild your technology but we can advise you on using alternative techniques.\u00a0 In addition, if you plan to use media, we can help you design and prepare culturally appropriate versions.<\/p>\n

Our translation and localization services include:<\/strong><\/p>\n