Threshold Concepts and Culture-as-Meta-Context

Abstract

This article explores the use of threshold concepts and their application to teaching culture. While there is clear recognition of the importance of preparing students to succeed in a global and multicultural world, the way we teach students about the importance and role of culture is often disjointed, narrowly focused, and does not always address key underlying issues that could help them grasp, retain, and apply the concept. After reviewing the literature on threshold concepts, and providing a quick overview of the ways in which culture is usually taught, I propose teaching culture-as-meta-context as an alternative approach that leads students to cross a conceptual threshold that allows them to gain a previously inaccessible perspective and develop the cultural mindset that is key to managing and working across cultures, nationally and globally. I further present some guidelines and ideas for teaching students culture-as-meta-context and a cultural mindset.

Keywords

threshold concepts culture meta-context cultural mindset cognitive intuitive and rational decision making System I System II

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