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- How to COIL?
- How to BIP?
- Inclusive COIL Programs
This section offers general (and practice-based) outlines on how to go forward in U!REKA education: How to open existing courses and how to create new collaborative educational formats. Here you will also get guidelines on short-term projects and mobilities such as COILs, BIPs, excursions as well as long-term endeavours such as common courses and collaborative micro credentials, up to whole study programs, such as joint and double degrees.
Co-creation / Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)
A COIL project is an educational initiative that integrates online collaboration between students and lecturers from institutions in different countries or cultural contexts. The primary goal is to create intercultural and interdisciplinary learning opportunities that are embedded within academic coursework. COIL emphasizes active, project-based engagement, leveraging digital tools to overcome geographical and logistical barriers.
Typically, students work together on shared tasks or projects that align with course objectives while drawing on their diverse cultural and academic perspectives. COIL can be applied across disciplines, fostering a global outlook and intercultural competence alongside discipline-specific learning.
Characteristics of COIL Pedagogy
- Intercultural Collaboration:
- Students from different cultural or national backgrounds engage in meaningful exchanges, promoting mutual understanding and the development of intercultural competence.
- Lecturers co-design and co-teach modules, blending diverse academic approaches and cultural insights.
- Technology-Enhanced Learning:
- COIL relies on digital tools and platforms (e.g., Zoom, Google Workspace, MS Teams or Padlet) to facilitate communication, content sharing, and collaboration.
- Both synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous (flexible timing) formats are utilized to accommodate time zone differences and accessibility needs.
- Experiential Learning:
- Students actively engage in creating solutions, analyzing case studies, or developing shared outputs, making the learning process hands-on and relevant.
- The emphasis is on learning through doing, reflecting, and adapting within an intercultural framework.
- Embedded Reflection:
- Reflection is integral, enabling students to process intercultural experiences and assess their learning progress.
- Reflection tasks often focus on cultural differences, team dynamics, and the broader implications of collaboration.
Strengths of COIL Pedagogy
- Intercultural Competence Development:
- Students develop key skills such as cultural awareness, communication across differences, and adaptability, which are crucial for global citizenship and employability.
- Accessible Global Learning:
- Unlike traditional study-abroad programs, COIL is cost-effective and accessible, allowing participation regardless of financial or geographical constraints.
- It democratizes internationalization, making global experiences available to more diverse student populations.
- Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Learning:
- COIL encourages interdisciplinary approaches, exposing students to different academic traditions and methodologies.
- Collaboration across cultures nurtures teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
- Customization and Scalability:
- COIL can be tailored to fit course-specific learning objectives and scaled to include multiple institutions or teams.
COIL pedagogy, despite its challenges, provides transformative learning experiences that prepare students for global engagement and interdisciplinary problem-solving. Addressing the challenges through thoughtful design, robust support systems, and reflective practices enhances the impact and sustainability of COIL initiatives.
Visualization of COIL project embedded into your curriculum (source: Eva Haug, U!reka Introduction to COIL workshop) & Visualization of COIL project phases (source: Eva Haug, U!reka Introduction to COIL workshop)
Video about COIL: What is COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning)?
How to BIP / Blended Intensive Programs (BIP) [Eva Haug, Amsterdam UAS]
A Blended Intensive Program (BIP) is an Erasmus initiative designed to offer short, collaborative, and interdisciplinary learning experiences. BIPs combine online learning with physical mobility to foster international cooperation and intercultural exchange among students and staff from European higher education institutions. Participants engage in a mix of virtual sessions and an intensive on-site period, providing a flexible, accessible, and innovative format for internationalization and collaboration.
Main Characteristics and Requirements
- Blended Format: A combination of virtual activities (online collaboration between students) and a short-term physical mobility period lasting 5-30 days.
- Interdisciplinary Approach: Programs can integrate multiple disciplines, encouraging diverse perspectives and problem-solving.
- Collaboration Across Institutions: Designed and implemented by a minimum of three higher education institutions from different Erasmus program countries.
- Focus on Digital Skills and Intercultural Competence: BIPs emphasize developing digital proficiency, teamwork, and intercultural awareness.
- Inclusive and Accessible: They aim to increase participation among students who might face barriers to long-term mobility, such as financial or personal constraints.
Advantages of BIPs
- Enhanced Accessibility: Combines the benefits of virtual learning with short-term physical mobility, making international experiences more inclusive.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Reduced travel and accommodation costs compared to traditional long-term exchanges.
- Flexible Learning: Participants benefit from online preparation and follow-up, allowing deeper engagement with course content.
- Interdisciplinary Learning Opportunities: Students and staff collaborate across disciplines, enhancing creativity and innovation.
- Scalable Internationalization: Institutions can engage a broader range of students and staff in international activities, expanding the reach of Erasmus programs.
Challenges of BIPs
- Coordination and Collaboration: Organizing a blended program across multiple institutions requires robust planning and alignment of goals, schedules, and teaching approaches.
- Technology and Digital Literacy: Uneven access to technology or digital skills among participants may pose challenges during virtual components.
- Engagement During Virtual Phases: Maintaining motivation and active participation in online sessions can be difficult without effective facilitation and intentional design for collaboration.
- Short Physical Mobility Period: Limited time on-site may constrain opportunities for deeper intercultural immersion and relationship-building.
Inclusive COIL Programs [Eva Haug, Amsterdam UAS]
Inclusive COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) refers to designing and facilitating online international collaborations that ensure participation is equitable, accessible, and meaningful for all students, regardless of their socioeconomic status, physical abilities, learning styles, or cultural backgrounds. It acknowledges diversity and seeks to create an environment where all participants can fully engage and contribute.
Main Characteristics of Inclusive COIL
- Equitable Access: Providing the necessary resources, tools, and support to ensure all participants can engage meaningfully.
- Cultural Responsiveness: Acknowledging and valuing diverse cultural perspectives and ensuring that tasks and interactions are culturally sensitive and inclusive.
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL): Incorporating flexibility in content delivery, task formats, and assessment methods to accommodate diverse needs.
- Facilitative Teaching: Lecturers act as facilitators to encourage equal participation and address power imbalances or biases within student interactions.
Ensuring Inclusivity and Accessibility in COIL
- Provide Training and Orientation: Offer training sessions for lecturers and students on intercultural communication, digital tools, and inclusive practices.
- Select Accessible Technology: Use platforms and tools that are user-friendly, available across devices, and compatible with assistive technologies (e.g., screen readers).
- Flexible Scheduling: Design synchronous activities with time zone differences in mind and supplement them with asynchronous options that allow for translation and other modes of support.
- Encourage Multimodal Participation: Allow students to engage through various formats, such as video, text, voice notes, or visual content, accommodating different preferences and abilities.
- Facilitate Intercultural Awareness: Integrate activities that foster cultural understanding and promote open dialogue about differences and commonalities.
Main Challenges for Inclusivity
- Digital Divide: Students may face unequal access to technology, reliable internet, or appropriate devices.
- Language Barriers: Differences in language proficiency can hinder communication and confidence.
- Cultural Differences: Varied communication styles, academic norms, and power dynamics can lead to misunderstandings.
- Implicit Bias and Stereotypes: Preconceived notions about others may affect collaboration dynamics.
- Physical and Cognitive Accessibility: Materials and tools may not cater to students with disabilities.
Countering Challenges
- Address the Digital Divide:
- Use low-bandwidth tools and asynchronous methods to accommodate varying internet access.
- Offer financial or institutional support for students needing hardware or software.
- Facilitate Language Inclusivity:
- Use plain, clear language in communications.
- Provide subtitles, transcripts, or translation tools for greater accessibility.
- Promote Open and Respectful Dialogue:
- Set norms for respectful interaction and train students in intercultural communication skills.
- Apply Universal Design Principles:
- Ensure all content is accessible (e.g., alt text for images, captions for videos).
- Offer multiple formats for materials and deliverables.
Examples of Inclusive Approaches, Practices, Technology, or Designs
- Collaborative Tools:
Use platforms like Miro or Padlet that support visual, text, and voice-based contributions, allowing students to choose how they engage. - Cultural Exchange Activities:
Start the collaboration with activities such as cultural storytelling or shared playlists where students contribute in ways that resonate with their backgrounds and comfort levels. - Adaptive Assessment Methods:
Design assessments that offer students the flexibility to demonstrate their learning in different formats, such as videos, infographics, or essays, based on their strengths and resources.
Inclusive COIL ensures that international collaboration becomes a transformative learning experience for everyone, fostering a global community that values diversity, equity, and shared growth.
