• ConnEcTEd
• [IO 8] Train the trainer: Program for designing and implementing Virtual Exchange

Name of the institution(s) or teams

• NETT DEVISE KA 2 project
• Prof. Dr. Anna Turula, Pedagogical University Krakow

Format

Virtual Training, organised on a Moodle platform

Title

Train the trainer: Program for designing and implementing Virtual Exchange

Keywords

virtual exchange; VE; teacher training; MOOC; mentoring scheme; intercultural communication

Topic

1. Virtual Exchange: planning, design, implementation, evaluation
2. Designing VE tasks and task sequences
3. Responding to challenge
4. VE student mentoring
5. Intercultural communication and ICC (intercultural communicative competence)

Goals

To train academic teachers in the planning, design and implementation of virtual exchange programs with special regard to the design of tasks / task sequences which develop higher order thinking skills and intercultural communicative competence.

Domains/aspects of internationalization (fill in the category from the grid)

Groups of students from different countries work together in a virtual classroom and create common projects, which are presented during the course.

Target group

Academic staff; PhD students

Educational level and study year

PhD and post doc levels

Context information users would need to understand the digital tool
(e.g., about the TE system, curricular integration)

The tool used is a Moodle-based course together with various apps (e.g. Padlet). No special content knowledge necessary.

Language of the example

English

License

Copyright

In how far does your approach strengthen the internationalization (of the curriculum) in Teacher Education?

This training aims at making faculty of different universities more familiar with virtual exchange as a means of internationalisation. It gives the know-how of virtual exchange together with the philosophy of such pedagogy, its rationale and ICC-connected outcomes, the latter being even more important for internationalisation.

Which dimensions of digital transformation in teaching for teacher educators did you incorporate (utilize)?

• digital competencies (use digital tools and resources effectively in your teaching practice),
• digital pedagogy (integration of digital tools and resources into teaching and learning strategies, including the development of new approaches, methods and techniques),
• digital assessment: use of digital tools and techniques to assess and evaluate learning
• digital infrastructure (the provision of digital infrastructure and resources to support teaching and learning).
• digital literacy: tech-savvy task-tool affordancing

How have you utilized digital tools/methods/resources in your teaching practice to strengthen coherent/integrative and/or international approaches, and what specific strategies or techniques have you found to be effective in achieving this objective?

For example the use of digital tools and resources, such as virtual exchanges with students from other countries, could enhance the international and cross-cultural dimensions of a learning experience. Additionally, good task-tool affordancing as well as innovative, ICC-oriented task design guarantee the development of higher-order thinking skills. Finally, virtual exchanges provide excellent context for various learning modes – individual, local group, international group – which cater to various learner needs and individual differences.

How have you employed co-creative approaches and/or participatory design in your use of digital tools to enhance student learning and engagement, and what have been some of the successful outcomes that you have observed as a result?

Virtual exchange is a mode of learning in which students work in teams – local or international. VE task design capitalises on this learning mode: most assignments are about the co-creation of a certain outcome which is subject to future processing (international peer evaluation and constructive feedback; re-design; implementation by the partner group, etc.).