Virtual Global Exchange

COIL Pedagogy

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is a teaching and learning methodology that facilitates virtual global exchange by giving educators the skills to successfully link a class at one educational institution with another in a different country or cultural setting. The COIL methodology and associated workshops train educators to develop shared learning outcomes that emphasize experiential and collaborative student-centered learning. Students are awarded credit in the course in which they are enrolled, with the virtual global experience (a project, assignment, or experience) as a graded project within that course. Professors monitor student learning throughout the shared experience and grade students as agreed upon in advance. The online interaction between students can happen synchronously, for example, through video conferencing or live chats, or asynchronously, such as through discussion boards, shared documents, or email exchanges.

COIL does not require the use of any particular software platform or learning management system. Professors and students should use whatever technology is available and suitable to the tasks, and more than one technology tool can be used for the online collaboration and exchange. Professors can select whatever software or platform works best for their collaboration – and is approved by their respective universities. Successful projects and discussions have taken place using video conferencing, collaboratively edited documents, learning management systems, social media, and many other kinds of software/technology.

For more information, visit the “What is COIL” website from the SUNY COIL Center.