부산대학교 도서관

The traditional benefits of study abroad courses, such as experiential learning in an appropriate context (Falk & Dierking, 2000; Silberman, 2007), are widely acknowledged. The additional perspectives of family influence and the struggles and triumphs of moral reasoning can offer another dimension to study abroad courses. Faculty from the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and the Department of Chemistry at Sam Houston State University developed a course, "Discoveries in Chemistry, Textiles, and Nutritional Science," that incorporates such a family focus. During this 2-week course, students visit five cities in Germany and one in France where Nobel-Prize-winning discoveries were made. Various scientists involved in these discoveries are studied as individuals, and the early influences of their families of origin and the families they established are examined. The scientists are studied within the context of the times in which they worked, which helps to explain the moral and ethical decisions they faced. Finally, the discoveries are carried into the present, emphasizing how they continue to have an impact on the lives and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]