Safety: Teach Students With Case Studies

How could you generate a case study to teach students both cultural differences and risky scenarios?

The health and safety talk can be fun and educational.

Why use case studies as a tool to teach students?

Case studies are not just for professionals, and they do not have to be boring! Here are reasons why using case studies as an educational tool to teach students is a good idea:

Pull Students into Relatable and Realistic Situations

Don't just talk about policies and guidance to be safe abroad. Put students in real scenarios to navigate unfamiliarity and culture shock.

Facilitate Critical Thinking and Discussions

Students can assess the situation, weigh their options, and make informed decisions in a controlled environment.

Address Ambiguities Between the Boundaries of Safety vs. Cultural Differences

Support students' understanding of their own culture and how differences abroad should be explored from a lens of curiosity and openminded-ness while encouraging them to know their boundaries.

Enhances Engagement. Period.

Today's students do not want to be lectured. While a lot of the safety unit presents points that are "common sense," students need a clear connection between why these lessons are related to their time abroad.

What common student event with ambiguous safety concerns could be addressed through a case study?

For my activity, I chose the following three topics to design a case study around:

Alcohol Consumption: Understanding cultural differences regarding the context in which alcohol is consumed in other countries while understanding the safety concerns for American students.
Air-Conditioning: Addressing one of the most common household appliances taken for granted in American homes and setting expectations for living abroad.
Clothing Perceptions: Appropriately talking about how American clothing styes could be perceived differently abroad.