Identity text: an educational intervention to foster cultural interaction

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Sociocultural Theory
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Sociocultural theories emphasize learning through social interaction in facilitated contexts.
• There is a need for pedagogical spaces that encourage sharing diverse ways of knowing and doing.
• This study explored using 'Identity Text' to create such a space.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a pedagogical space for sociocultural interaction.
• To explore the utility of 'Identity Text' as a tool for cross-cultural learning.
• To facilitate discussion about participants' cultural backgrounds.

Main Methods:

• Participants in an international medical education fellowship created 'Identity Texts' (written, spoken, visual, or multimodal artifacts).
• Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the pedagogical utility of the intervention.
• Identity Texts were used to promote discussion on cultural backgrounds.

Main Results:

• The 'Identity Text' intervention established a 'reflective space' for sensitive topics like discrimination and team roles.
• A 'narrative space' emerged, enabling powerful storytelling and cultural insights.
• Participants described identity transformations influenced by power dynamics, social demands, and origins.

Conclusions:

• Identity Text is a useful pedagogical strategy for cross-cultural education.
• Further research is needed on its impact on cognitive engagement and enhanced learning.