Critical digital literacy and virtual collaboration skills seem more important than ever in tackling global challenges such as the pandemic, ideological divides, and misinformation. Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) offers an opportunity to traverse boundaries and make the “classroom learning” experience globally connected. In this virtual exchange pedagogy, instructors from two or more institutions agree to overlap a portion of their existing courses, creating a multi-cultural environment in which students complete shared assignments and projects with peers abroad.

 

Global Initiatives at UW Bothell, in partnership with the Office of Global Affairs at UW Tacoma, offers a supported way to build out a COIL course collaboration through the COIL Fellows Program, providing structured training, a community of practice, and $1,000 in course development funding. Faculty interested in developing a course collaboration with an international partner are invited to apply for the 2022 COIL Fellowship by Friday, November 12, 2021. Having a partner is not required at the time of application. 

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Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) – also known as international virtual exchange, is a pedagogical approach that fosters global exchange and understanding through online learning environments. Started at The State University of New York and now in practice at hundreds of universities around the world, COIL connects learners across time and space, without leaving their home campus.

At the University of Washington, COIL began at UW Bothell, with UW Tacoma signing on in year two as co-PI of a generous grant from the UW Seattle’s Jackson School of International Studies.