Tip of the Iceberg

In this Tip of the Iceberg multiplayer synchronous simulation, learners communicate via online chat in teams of 4 or 5, racing against the clock to prepare a crucial presentation. The participants in the simulation are randomly assigned the role of either a native English speaker or a non-native English speaker within their organization, and each player has unique and essential information to contribute. The global collaboration simulation features two distinct backstories: one for a start-up company marketing solar-powered outdoor speakers and another for a non-profit organization focused on reducing waterborne illnesses in the developing world. Instructors can choose either scenario or run both in succession to engage the learners in deliberate practice of cross-cultural communication skills.

The Tip of the Iceberg simulation limits the ways in which native and non-native speakers can interact. As participants struggle to collaborate, their resulting experience replicates the communication patterns found in real, globally diverse, and distributed teams. The global collaboration simulation illustrates the potential for significant misunderstandings to occur in translation between individuals from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and provides an opportunity for learners to practice skills for effective communication in cross-cultural interactions.