How a Challenge is also a Chance: Shaping Teacher Education through Collaborative Online International Learning.

Abstract

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is a well-known concept for virtual exchange. For the partnership of the PH Ludwigsburg and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte it served as the theoretical framework for continuing our collaboration even under pandemic conditions. Students from both universities improved their intercultural communication, media, and global learning competencies while working in groups to research global challenges. Findings suggest COIL is a beneficial pedagogical method to impact students’ awareness of their own and others’ diverse cultural perspectives. While there were implementation challenges, out of them emerged many opportunities.