COIL & Virtual Exchange
Let’s face it: Creating a Collaborative Online International Learning course is not as easy as it sounds. You have to create content, design a curriculum, and find the right tools to use. If you have an idea for a course, but are struggling to figure out how to make it happen, then read on for my guide on how to conduct a collaborative online course!
Decide what your content and resources will be.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to think about what your content will be, and how you’re going to present it. Your class content should be able to adapt to the COIL model.
But before deciding what your content will be, ask yourself these questions:
- Are you ready to teach online? Everything will be done through the internet, obviously, so it is vital for you to know your ways around the Web for a hassle-free experience.
- Are you supported by your institution? Institutional support is crucial to getting resources, such as technological and teaching tools. Without it, you will have a hard time in developing your course.
- Do you have a teaching partner? Getting to know partners who are a good fit is key during your COIL course development. You must be careful to ensure that you’re each prepared and that your approach, goals, and styles of working are compatible.
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Develop Your Partnership
Once you’ve identified the right topic to teach, the next step is to find the right partner to co-teach with you. You need to get along well and have a similar teaching style because you’re going to be spending a lot of time together. I’ve found that the best way to find a co-teacher is through networking or recommendation.
Finding the right partner could be quite challenging, but here are some key criteria when looking for a teaching partner:
- Same commitment in teaching
- Shared teaching goals
- Open minded when it comes to cultural differences
Start Negotiating With Your Co-Teacher
Now that you have a partner to work with, it is now time to discuss the details of your collaboration. You will also need to talk about your teaching objectives, and how you will assess your students for a smooth collaboration.
To be more specific, it’s important to ask these questions when collaborating in creating a course plan:
- What languages do you speak or write in?
- How will you deal with language translation issues?
- What are your goals and objectives for this collaborative learning?
- How will you and your partner divide the tasks equally?
- Will student-generated content (forums) be essential in this course?
For an effective collaborative online learning experience, create your course with ImmerseU’s collaboration tools. Click below to start creating your curriculum!
By Suzanne Orzech, Chief Marketing Officer of Class2Class™
