The Impact Of Globalization And Technology On Teaching Business Communication: Reframing And Enlarging World View, Methods, And Content

Abstract

This paper explores the current paradigm shift in the use of technology in the classroom, which is occurring because of technology explosion in society, impact of globalization, necessary reframing, and enlarging of the world view, methods, and content to make business communication classes relevant. The question is whether the classroom should mirror society or whether society will eventually mirror the classroom. If the classroom mirrors society, the responsibility of methods and content becomes an outwardly directed response. In essence, we simply copy what we see happening in technology within the business arena, such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube videos. If society will mirror the classroom, then the content and methods used can determine whether the potential for higher order thinking can be actualized within the society, as a whole, through the pedagogy of business communication. This actualization must come through the structure and use of an ethical core in teaching, with an understanding that technology has the power to both advance innovation and collaboration or mislead and distort, and it is the classroom facilitator’s responsibility to foster the realization of the power of technology. The business world is challenging those of us who teach business communication to make use of technology in a more “21st century” manner; not so much in the use of technology, but more in the attitudes that shape its use. In addition to teaching how to use technology for communication, there is a strong push to teach appropriate ethics in its use within a reframed world view.

This paper addresses how content and methods must be reframed and how professors must adopt a revised world view that aligns with a culturally diverse audience and a 24/7, communicative, free, and open environment. The power and force of said technology, specifically social-media communication, has the ability to alter the course of lives, communities, corporations, and countries and must be seen as an integral part of the business classroom.