[MUSIC]
For centuries, people have navigated the globe looking for new knowledge, skills,
and job opportunities.
Often times, they've travelled great distances and faced many challenges.
Not surprisingly, only a few succeeded in their endeavors.
With the arrival of the internet, global online learning and
telecommuting to work have become a reality.
As a result, in the US alone, thousands of offshore students
are now taking classes without the need to travel internationally.
While, e-learning and American Institutions has broken down barriers to
access and education, it also has its own pitfalls and drawbacks.
>> It would have helped me if I knew about the American system in my online
courses since in my country it was totally different.
>> You're a little bit afraid what to say,
what to put on it, what to write, how to ask the professor.
>> Most often information, situations and
topic were more about American environment rather than the,
environment of other countries.
>> What of the most common barriers for international online learners
taking classes in US universities, and what can we do about it?
Let's ask Dr. Valeri Chuklilomin, Associate Professor at
the State University of New York's Empire State College, and
the leading expert in international distance learning.
>> International students taking online classes.
at American universities, and foreign born professionals
looking for American jobs.
They all have something in common,
they have to learn how to navigate American virtual or online environments.
>> In this course,
we will demonstrate how American virtual environments reflect the American culture,
ways of doing things, and professional and local contexts.
It's very common for
non natives to have gaps in understanding the specific context.
Those gaps are known as barriers.
Barriers are real and can seriously hinder the online learning experience or
job performance.
To overcome barriers, one needs to know how to recognize and
deal with them and develop a set of specific competencies.
[MUSIC]
During this course, you will be able to systematically examine barriers,
review required competencies, and use a specifically designed self-diagnostic
tool to detect gaps and craft an effective strategy for improvement.
>> This course is based on ongoing research and is informed by years of
experience in international distance learning and consultancy.
It is created by an international team,
at the State University of New York's Empire State College.
We hope that you enjoy the course, and find it useful for your college and
career success.
Welcome to the course.
[MUSIC]