International Affairs
- COIL
What is COIL?
Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is an innovative, interactive learning method that connects students from different countries to work together on a shared project or activity during an academic semester. This approach allows professors to easily integrate international experiences into their courses, either by collaborating with colleagues who teach the same subject or those from other disciplines. COIL promotes interdisciplinary learning and enriches intercultural understanding, creating a global classroom environment without the need for travel.
How to Incorporate COIL in a Course with Universidad San Sebastián?
To implement COIL effectively, it’s essential to have a USS academic partner interested in collaborating. Professors from USS are encouraged to suggest an international partner from their networks to the Faculty Advisor at the Office of International Affairs.
If you don’t already have a partner professor, reach out to the International Affairs Office to connect with someone from their list of professors.
- Initial Planning Meeting
In the initial first meeting, both professors will introduce themselves and share details about their students’ backgrounds. This meeting is an opportunity to decide on the number of classes involved in the COIL project, the expected learning outcomes, and the activities to conduct together. Learning outcomes should clearly reflect the collaborative work and align with the course goals for both institutions.
- COIL Course Design
A structured plan is essential for effective COIL design. Outline the course content and module structure to ensure consistent interaction between student groups. Successful COIL experiences rely on intercultural exchange and active participation, so plan for regular, meaningful interaction.
Develop a detailed syllabus, specifying the weekly tasks students need to complete; a COIL program usually spans 4 to 5 weeks. Define the best communication methods for each task (e.g., oral, written, synchronous, asynchronous) and choose appropriate platforms (such as Skype, Zoom, Teams, or WhatsApp). Be sure to consider potential time zone differences to facilitate smooth scheduling.
- Execution
Follow the established plan to conduct the COIL activities. Start with an icebreaker to encourage interaction, followed by discussions where students compare relevant aspects of each country’s context related to the course content. The core activities should foster collaboration between students, concluding with a wrap-up to reinforce the learning outcomes.
- Assessment
Both professors should agree on an assessment plan before the project begins. The evaluation criteria should align with the goals of both courses and be integrated into the students’ overall grades. It’s recommended to use a short questionnaire at the end of the COIL experience to assess both the successes and areas for improvement.
- Activity Documentation
After completing the COIL project, document the activity in the MoveOn platform with assistance from the Faculty Advisor at Universidad San Sebastián. This documentation helps track and evaluate the impact of international collaborations.
