Experiential Learning in a Multicultural Online Space: 'My Digital Self'-Avatar Design Workshop

This paper reports on the design and implementation of the 'My Digital Self: Avatar Design Workshop', an experiential initiative aimed at fostering multicultural and collaborative learning among youth from Finnish and Japanese high schools within an online context. Developed through a partnership between private companies and formal educational institutions, the workshop brought together young people from geographically and culturally distant locations for a co-design practice and multicultural learning experience. Through individual and collaborative avatar design activities, participants engaged in dialogue about gender representation in digital environments, drawing on their lived experiences to explore facets of diversity. The article begins by outlining the pedagogical principles that informed the workshop's design, followed by a concise description of materials, methods, and stakeholders involved. It then provides a detailed discussion on the experiential nature of online learning practices and their role in enhancing digital learning and intercultural communication. The workshop's success in creating a platform for multicultural exchange highlights the effectiveness of simple online tools, when guided by pedagogical strategies that encourage active youth participation through hands-on design activities. The paper concludes by suggesting ways for future iterations of the workshop, emphasising the iterative process of educational innovation and experiential learning.