Cultural Mediation Basics
Famous Theories
Mediation in Practice
Cultural Mediation in Museums
Cultural Misunderstandings
100

This is the process of connecting individuals with different cultural backgrounds in a smooth and informative way.

What is cultural mediation?

100

This theorist developed a principle emphasizing the importance of tools and signs in the cognitive development of individuals across cultures.

Who is Lev Vygotsky? 

100

These individuals act as intermediaries to explain cultural differences and mediate conversations, often in settings like museums, galleries, or international businesses.

Who are cultural mediators?

100

This is one of the primary benefits of cultural mediation in museums, allowing visitors to better connect with exhibits and gain deeper insights.

What is enhancing visitor experience?

100

When a person from one culture misinterprets the behavior or communication style of someone from another culture, this is called a cultural ____.

What is a misunderstanding?

200

This key concept in cultural mediation refers to bridging gaps in understanding by explaining cultural norms and practices between parties. 

What is cultural clarification?

200

This concept refers to the difference between what a learner can do independently and what they can achieve with guidance from a more knowledgeable person.

What is the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)?

200

This type of mediation involves facilitating the exchange of meaning and significance within a work of art to make it more accessible.

What is art mediation?

200

This form of cultural mediation could involve offering guided tours or workshops to explain the historical and cultural context of art pieces in a museum.

What is in-person cultural mediation?

200

This type of communication behavior, often common in individualistic cultures, can be misinterpreted as rude or aggressive in more collectivist cultures.

What is direct communication?

300

This term refers to the ability of a cultural mediator to understand and interpret multiple cultural perspectives.

What is cultural empathy?

300

According to Vygotsky, the process of internalizing cultural tools begins in this stage of life.

What is childhood?

300

This term refers to the challenges and opportunities that arise when individuals with different social and cultural backgrounds come into contact.

What are cultural boundaries?

300

This approach involves using technology to make museum exhibits more accessible to a broader audience, including virtual tours and interactive platforms.

What is digital cultural mediation?

300

This is the cultural concept that can vary widely across cultures, often leading to misunderstandings about punctuality or the importance of time.

What is time orientation?

400

A mediator’s role includes resolving misunderstandings, fostering dialogue, and creating this between different cultural groups.
 

What is cultural cohesion?

400

Vygotsky’s theory asserts that tools and signs encountered in society influence the development of these everyday cognitive abilities.

What are learning, problem-solving, and memory?

400

This type of technology supports cultural mediation by providing digital access to cultural content and facilitating communication across cultural divides.

What is digital mediation?

400

This is one way that cultural mediation can make museums more inclusive, providing access to those who cannot physically visit the museum.

What is remote or virtual access?

400

In this scenario, two parties from different cultures are able to find common ground, which helps resolve a conflict.

What is reconciliation?

500

The ability to listen, reflect, and confirm understanding of the other party’s message is known as this.

What is active listening?

500

Vygotsky believed that cultural differences in children’s cognitive development could be understood through their use of these.

What are cultural tools and signs?

500

Cultural mediators resolve misunderstandings and promote clarity by facilitating this process, often in multilingual settings.

What is dispute resolution?

500

This is one of the ways cultural mediation can be implemented in museums, offering unique, interactive experiences that engage visitors and enhance learning.

What are cultural mediation workshops or digital games?

500

This term refers to the ability to acknowledge, respect, and adapt to differences between cultural beliefs and practices in order to promote understanding.

What is cultural sensitivity?