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New Virtual Exchange Course Development

Models and Parameters  

In recognition of our University’s Learning Goals (ULG) that focus on global citizenship, our Global Opportunities (GO) Cross-Cultural Requirement cultivates in students a stronger understanding and appreciation for the diverse perspectives, traditions, and values that shape our world. The requirement also fosters cultural competence and an ability to navigate and engage with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. By participating in cross-cultural courses and experiences, students gain valuable insight into the complexities of human diversity and develop the skills needed to thrive in intercultural environments. 

Cross-Cultural Learning goals: 

Through completion of the cross-cultural immersive experience (either through an off-campus experience or a course-based option that includes pedagogies that enable students to interact with members of another culture), students demonstrate a complex understanding of culture that enables them to: 

  1. Recognize and reflect on their own culture, their ethnocentric assumptions, and differences/similarities between cultures. (ULG 4c) 
  2. Recognize and articulate ways that their own identities and actions may be understood differently in various cultural settings. (ULG 1c, 3a) 
  3. Describe how their cross-cultural experiences help them understand issues in different cultural contexts. (ULG 3b, 4b) 
  4. Articulate how their own intercultural growth can enrich their personal development, academic development, and career readiness. (ULG 3c, 4d) 

Semester-length VE/COIL course 

4 SH scheduled semester course; paired with an international partner (course, community organization, 3rd-party provider facilitated group, etc.) 

  • Includes content related to course topic and standard graded OFFP/OFFR content connected to Cross-cultural learning goals (CCLG). 
  • OFFP material prepares students for cross-cultural communication and learning, some content specific to the culture of the partner. 
  • OFFR material includes reflection on the cross-cultural experience, including articulating professional, academic, personal growth, some content on site-specific culture. 
  • Courses could blend OFFP/OFFR materials with topical assignments where possible. 
  • Experiential component – Assigned work produced through collaboration with international partners (various models possible on evaluation of student work) 
    • Cross-cultural learning goals inform content 
    • Primary method involves student project on a cross-cultural team .   
      • Minimum of 5-6 weeks; up to 8 weeks possible. Approximately 35-40 hours 
      • Ideally includes synchronous plenary sessions when possible (project introduction, team building, group dynamics in cross-cultural setting, etc.) 
      • Student work in cross-cultural teams (student members from each school) – synchronous and asynchronous work expected 
      • Presentations of projects 
      • VE/COIL project assignments typically carry the highest percentage of course grade relative to other course assignments – 40-50% typical. 
  • Additional connections 
    • Other course assignments can be focused more on cultural learning outside of project work 
    • Informal online connections among team members encouraged 
    • Other cultural activity (may be earlier or later than project work period as well)  
    • Cross-cultural feedback on team presentations adds to reflection 

Remote GO Short program (OFVP/OFVS/OFVR) 

OFVP class held during the 2nd 7 weeks in semester preceding experience; remote GO Short over Summer or Winter break; OFFR class during the 1st 7 weeks following semester 

OFVP/OFVR  

  • Course parallels structure of existing OFFP/OFFR GO Short courses.  
  • Includes some asynchronous (synchronous depending on time zones) cultural content specific to the partner site. 
  • OFVP/OFVR courses taught online (or could be hybrid) 

OFVS (experience) 

  • Typically facilitated by local on-site provider. 
  • 15-20 hours per week over 3 weeks; 50-60 contact hours total – primarily or entirely synchronous during OFVS (winter/summer break experience) with some additional asynchronous work possible. 
  • Contact includes multiple sessions with local students, when possible.  

Other models may be possible 

  • A 4 SH semester course with students completing individual semester-length experiential international cross-cultural components online and group course meetings with in-person (or online) OFFP/OFFR course content. 
    • Example: a semester-length online international internship facilitated by a provider with regular weekly internship hours, synchronous online cross-cultural team meetings, supervision, etc.  and a concurrent campus-based OFFP/OFFR course sequence that includes learning about the culture of the experience and intercultural development skills and practice. 
  • A topical 4 SH spring semester course focused on a more regional cross-cultural experience could possibly blend some traditional VE/COIL pedagogy with a limited in-person immersion experience during spring break.  The course would follow the VE/COIL guidelines but with a more limited online team experience supplemented by a limited in-person experience.  
  • Other models could be presented.  Any such course would have to demonstrate adequate standard OFFP/OFFR content (2 SH equivalent) and a methodology for interaction across cultures that can provide an intercultural experience comparable to those described above. 

Terminology/Abbreviations 

  • ULG – University Learning Goals 
  • VE/COIL - Virtual Exchange / Collaborative Online Intercultural Learning 
  • 3rd Party Provider – A study abroad organization offering semester or short-term programs, and/or offering selected services to university partners to support faculty-led programs 
  • OFFP – GO Prep course; OFFC (GO Long program)/OFFS (GO Short program); OFFR – GO Reflection course;  
  • OFVP – Remote (Virtual) GO Prep course; OFVS (Remote program); OFVR – Remote GO Reflection Course 
Additional Resources: Contact Information:
Scott Manning: manning@susqu.edu