Welcome!
My name is Ashley Hufnagel and I am a student at Michigan State University. I recently graduated with a B.A. in Education, and a B.A. in Media Arts and Technology. This summer I began my pursuit for a Master of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET) by taking part in this study abroad experience. This website documents what I have learned and how I have grown through this experience, personally and professionally.
Purpose
The purpose of this website is to share what I learned during my study abroad experiences, through visiting various schools, living within a different culture, and stepping out of my comfort zone. One of the main focuses of my study was to gain competency in global skills. The skills that I chose to emphasize were: applying information to new or broader contexts, undertaking tasks that are unfamiliar or risky, and adapting to situations of change. In the menu above, you will find links to the various videos and writings that I completed.
The assignments that I completed were Hours by Myself, Inquiry Posts, and a final Synthesis.
The assignments that I completed were Hours by Myself, Inquiry Posts, and a final Synthesis.
The Value of My Experience
This trip has given me more experience that I could ever get back home. It is difficult to put into words what being in a different culture did to me. I felt like I let go of my inhibitions, and that allowed me to grow. I am still a little anxious to try new things, but I know that I can overcome those fears, thanks to Hours by Myself. Being in different schools showed me that there are other ways to create an academic environment and being in a different culture made me realize there are different, and not bad, ways of doing many things. I don't think I could have asked for a more focused group of colleagues; the discussions we had were authentic and heartfelt. Yes, this is a fun experience, but being pushed to delve deeper into my inquires while living out of the boundaries of my comfort levels has been challenging and, oh so rewarding.
For more information about the global competencies, check out this article:
Gardner, Gross, & Steglitz (2008). Unpacking Your Study Abroad Experience: Critical Reflection for Workplace. Competencies. CERI Research Brief, 1(1), 1-10.
Gardner, Gross, & Steglitz (2008). Unpacking Your Study Abroad Experience: Critical Reflection for Workplace. Competencies. CERI Research Brief, 1(1), 1-10.