Virtual Exchange and Joint Classroom

Telecollaboration, Joint Classroom, Virtual Exchange or Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) - the basis for these teaching formats is collaboration between teachers and students in two or more countries using digital media. To achieve this, the academics work closely together to develop learning units that they teach either jointly or alternately. The instructors and the learning groups at the respective locations can belong to one discipline or look at an issue from an interdisciplinary perspective. The form of collaboration can also take many forms, depending on the teaching context: Teaching can take place entirely online or be offered in hybrid formats where, for example, face-to-face sessions take place at the participating universities while students work together online. Both synchronous (for all participants, the class takes place at the same time) and asynchronous, i.e., time- and location-independent elements can be used. A Joint Classroom can be held for an entire semester or - especially due to different lecture times - last only a few weeks or days.

In addition to deepening academic knowledge, a joint classroom is particularly suitable for developing intercultural competencies in shared online learning environments. Students can, for example, try out strategies for working in intercultural and virtual teams, learn about international perspectives on their subject area and deepen their knowledge of a subject-related problem through exchange and collaboration. As instructors, you can, for example, also integrate sub-steps of research-oriented learning, project-based or challenge-based learning.

In this way, the Joint Classroom can contribute to Internationalisation at Home as well as support the preparation or follow-up of a stay abroad. Joint Classroom formats can be an integrated part of a module and integrating them into the curriculum is both possible and desirable.