The Value of Teaching & Learning Through Study Abroad Experiences

Cultural tourism is an emerging sector of the broad and diverse field of hospitality. "Experiencing or having contact of differing intensity with the unique social fabric, heritage, and special character of places" (TC 1991, Blackwell 1997, Schweitzer 1999) is one of many definitions of cultural tourism which exist in the literature. Students who become engaged in faculty-led study abroad programs are transformed through their experience and obtain a much broader view of cultural tourism. In the "Year of the Teacher" at Buffalo State University, hospitality faculty will pursue inquiry into the value of teaching and learning through one study abroad experience. Instructional design and interdisciplinary experiences are reviewed to determine how faculty may think differently about how they teach hospitality courses. Course objectives and outcomes are used as a measure to assess the learning by students. The transformation of students is questioned. The research project findings suggest that the value of study abroad experiences have a profound impact on student learning. The scholarly work on teaching and learning promotes interdisciplinary discourse for all educators who seek travel experiences as a means of educating students.