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Educators and Students: Afghanistan Provincial Reconstruction Team Members' Informal Education Experiences

Popp, Whitney A
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1428961108

Abstract Details

2015, Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, Cross-Cultural, International Education.
As the United States military engagement in Afghanistan comes to an end, so do Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), the primary tool for hearts and minds projects by the U.S. military. These teams of United States military members from all branches worked in provinces to help build roads, mentor Afghan government officials, and provide humanitarian assistance. Throughout the literature I researched, the voices of those who served on PRTs was missing. Understanding their interactions in the context of informal education was sought to be explained through PRT members’ words. This thesis was conducted as a collective case study using coding within each interview and then cross-coded to find relevant themes that defined informal education within the context of Provincial Reconstruction Teams. Six PRT members from various provinces and years of service participated in the thesis. Five themes were found, 1) cultural exchange 2) building relationships 3) importance and influence of interpreters 4) empowerment and self-reliance, and 5) reflection. Conclusions draw upon themes found the need for further research as this thesis is the first to ask about informal education within the context of PRTs. Further research is needed regarding the voices of other PRT members, specifically Army Civil Affairs and Security Forces. Afghans remain silent within this work and must also have a voice in order to understand all sides of informal education within the PRT context. Advice is given regarding future implications of PRTs as a strategy and how to better equip our military members to play the role of educator in cross-cultural contexts.
Bruce Collet (Advisor)
Christopher Frey (Committee Member)
Marc Simon (Committee Member)
91 p.
Education; Military Studies
Provincial Reconstruction Teams; Afghanistan; Informal Education

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Popp, W. A. (2015). Educators and Students: Afghanistan Provincial Reconstruction Team Members' Informal Education Experiences [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1428961108

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Popp, Whitney. Educators and Students: Afghanistan Provincial Reconstruction Team Members' Informal Education Experiences. 2015. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1428961108.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Popp, Whitney. "Educators and Students: Afghanistan Provincial Reconstruction Team Members' Informal Education Experiences." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1428961108

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1428961108
809
© 2015, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.