CDD 240: Information Technology and Globalization brought together Flagler students and students from Chengdu Normal University (CDNU) in China for a series of live virtual exchanges centered around technology, culture, communication, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in society.
Taught by Dr. Jeremy Fei Wang, professor of computer information systems, the immersive Maymester course challenged students to examine how rapidly evolving technologies influence economies, education, culture, and everyday life on a global scale.
“Information technology now influences almost every aspect of our society, regardless of profession or academic majors,” Wang said. “Whether students go into business, high tech, healthcare, communication, education, politics, or arts, they will be working in environments shaped by AI, globalization, digital communication, data, and other emerging technologies.”
Wang said the course was designed to help students better understand not only the technical side of emerging technologies, but also the broader cultural, ethical, and societal questions that come with them. As AI and globalization continue reshaping the workforce, he emphasized the importance of students developing both technological literacy and cross-cultural communication skills.
“Fast-evolving technologies, especially generative AI and agentic AI, create both opportunities and challenges,” Wang said. “I think it is important for students to understand these changes so they can become informed professionals and responsible global citizens.”
Throughout the course, students engaged in interactive sessions with their student partners in China, discussing topics ranging from globalization and education to culture and student life. For many students, the experience transformed abstract classroom concepts into meaningful personal connections.
“The most surprising thing that I’ve learned from the interactions between my CDNU peers is that we are more similar than I thought,” said student Jazmine Major. “Before interacting with students from another country, I always thought we were very different from one another. But we all watch similar movies and shows, enjoy the same hobbies, and listen to the same artists.”
For Major, the experience helped turn globalization from an academic concept into something far more personal. Through conversations with her international peers, she said she gained a greater appreciation for the importance of empathy, patience, and adaptability when communicating across cultures.
“Through cross-cultural collaboration and discussion, I gained a better understanding of how my CDNU peers’ experiences, values, and perspectives can influence the way they approach problems and communicate ideas,” Major said. “This experience showed me that learning is not limited to just a classroom or from one point of view. Instead, students can be taught through meaningful conversations with people from around the world.”
The course culminated in a final collaborative presentation session on May 22, where Flagler students shared research projects informed by both course content and conversations with their international peers. Students were paired with CDNU students to gather broader global perspectives on modern issues connected to technology and globalization.
On presentation day, Library 302 transformed into an international forum as students presented their findings to their peers across the globe in real time. The presentations reflected weeks of discussion, collaboration, and research shaped by both classroom learning and cross-cultural exchange.
Presentation topics reflected many of today’s most pressing conversations surrounding emerging technology and global communication. Dylan Beiermann examined the impact of tariffs and trade wars on the international economy, while Christian Lowery explored the growth of AI language learning tools, translation models, and autonomous AI agent-building software. Other presentations focused on how AI can help erode cultural barriers and the role of social media in shaping global political movements.
“The international collaboration in this FlagSHIP course made learning more personal and meaningful,” Wang said. “Students did not just read about globalization or cross-cultural communication. They experienced it through live interactions with students from Chengdu Normal University and conversations with guest speakers from different professional and cultural backgrounds.”
In addition to the international collaboration, students also learned from a diverse lineup of guest speakers whose expertise connected technology with communication, culture, and business. Sessions included discussions on Chinese culture and student life, comparative global perspectives on language and communication, generative AI, and the growing use of agentic AI in enterprise systems.
Together, the guest speakers gave students a broad look at how emerging technologies intersect with culture, education, communication, and the global economy, while also exposing them to the real-world applications and challenges surrounding artificial intelligence.
For Major, the experience ultimately changed the way she thinks about communication and learning in an increasingly interconnected world.
“This course demonstrated how interconnected our world has become,” Major said. “It’s interesting how we can connect with people across the world in real time.”
