Exploring the Effectiveness of HyFlex Learning Model and Gather.town in Improving Cross-Cultural Competence of Kindergarten Teachers

Abstract

With the increased glocalization in China, internationalization of education has become trends, requiring teachers to possess intercultural competence. This mixed-methods study aims to investigate the effectiveness of web-based teaching and learning models, particularly the HyFlex model and Gather.town, in fostering intercultural competence among kindergarten teachers. 80 teachers were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=40) and a control group (n=40). The results of pre- and post-test showed that compared with the control group participating in the traditional program, the experimental group exhibited higher levels of intercultural mindfulness and empathy. Additionally, qualitative data were collected from observational field notes and semi-structured interviews. Findings indicated that the experimental group reported heightened awareness of biases, enhanced empathy, heightened engagement, effective application of intercultural skills. These results not only fill the research gap of Gather.town, but also give insights into innovative learning methods and teacher education.