Book Description
This study investigated seven students who participated in a short-term study abroad program in Italy, and the effects that they perceived. Researching the students' perceptions, utilizing rubrics adopted from the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), of knowledge, skills, and dispositions related to intercultural knowledge and competence, and life-long learning was completed through questionnaires, journals, and blogs. A questionnaire was formulated, with adopted AAC&U rubrics, for the seven students to complete prior to their study abroad experience, and again when they returned to the U.S. Also considered for data collection were the course journals and student blogs, which had been completed during the experience. Data analysis was guided by the adopted AAC&U rubrics to measure the students' perceptions. Quantitative data was analyzed via change scores to show the effect that the study abroad program had on the students' perceptions. The results of the data found that studying abroad did have an impact on the student's knowledge, skills, and dispositions related to intercultural knowledge and competence, and life-long learning. Students in this study proclaim that in this study abroad experience they learned a lot and gained new perspectives. This study found that the study abroad experience affected them and was evidenced by the qualitative data and the quantitative change scores. This study suggests that further research on short-term study abroad programs is needed and alternative data tools can be beneficial.