The Guide to COIL Virtual Exchange: Implementing, Growing, and Sustaining Collaborative Online International Learning

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is a virtual exchange approach that involves integrating existing courses across two or more institutions. This guide provides a comprehensive implementation guide for COIL Virtual Exchange, covering pedagogy, classroom examples, and institutional stakeholders. It offers perspectives from various institutional and cultural vantage points and explores how COIL VE is developing in different world regions. The book provides faculty and administrators with theoretical foundations, guidance on effective collaboration, and strategic considerations to develop robust COIL VE courses and programs.

Format: Hardback
Length: 540 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2022
Publisher: Stylus Publishing

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is a groundbreaking approach to internationalization that has gained widespread recognition and adoption since its inception in 2002. COIL, short for Collaborative Online International Learning, is a central modality of virtual exchange, a term that encompasses various forms of online learning and collaboration between students and instructors from different institutions across the globe.

At its core, COIL Virtual Exchange is a bilateral online exchange that involves the integration of existing courses across two or more geographically and/or culturally distinct institutions. This exchange takes place through the collaboration of instructors from both institutions, who link online with their counterparts in another region or country. Together, their students engage in joint projects, typically spanning a continuous five to eight-week period.

One of the key advantages of COIL VE is its potential to expand access to international education and intercultural experiences to a broader audience. Unlike traditional study abroad programs, which are often limited by geographical and financial constraints, COIL VE allows students from diverse backgrounds to participate in international learning without the need for physical travel. This not only promotes equity and inclusion but also fosters rigorous disciplinary and interdisciplinary studies, as students are exposed to different perspectives and approaches to learning.

Moreover, COIL VE promotes close and constructive engagement with students from different cultural perspectives, which is essential for developing global competence and understanding. By working together on joint projects and sharing ideas and experiences, students can develop a deeper appreciation for diversity and learn to navigate complex cultural interactions effectively.

While many COIL courses are launched by individual instructors based on their research connections and online outreach, they are increasingly being supported and led by dedicated COIL Coordinators who facilitate virtual exchanges and provide professional development opportunities. These coordinators play a crucial role in ensuring the success of COIL VE programs by providing guidance, training, and technical support to instructors and students alike.

In conclusion, COIL Virtual Exchange is a transformative approach to internationalization that offers numerous benefits to students, instructors, and institutions alike. By integrating existing courses across borders, COIL VE expands access to international education, promotes rigorous interdisciplinary studies, fosters close and constructive engagement with students from different cultural perspectives, and develops global competence. As the adoption of COIL continues to grow, it is clear that virtual exchange will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of international education.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781620369821