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Tuesday 16 April 2024
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Winter Sandbox Series: Collaborative Online International Learning

Banner of Winter Sandbox Series 2022
Organised by Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL)

Series Abstract
As part of the initiatives to engage teachers with overseas universities in a partnership to promote internationalization, CETL is running a series of Winter Sandbox seminars under the auspices of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) in January 2023.
COIL is an innovative pedagogical approach that connects teachers and students from different geographical and linguacultural regions to enable them to engage in discussions, collaborative projects, and other virtual exchanges, with a view to providing a transformative, cross-cultural and transnational learning experience via an online platform.
With invited speakers from the HKU Task Force on Internationalization and experts from the State University of New York (SUNY) who began COIL over twenty years ago, this CETL Sandbox series will share potentials, benefits, challenges and logistics on how to facilitate the development of new COIL courses for undergraduate (Ug) and taught postgraduate (TPg) levels, as well as the adaptation of existing courses to form COIL courses.

[10 Jan 2023] Session 1
Applications of Collaborative Online International Learning in Language and Culture Courses
Conceptualising a COIL through building a network of partners

Session 1

Date : 10 Jan 2023 (Tue)
Time : 12:30pm - 2:00pm (HKT)
Venue : RRS321 and Zoom
Speakers :

  • Dr. Mercedes Vázquez, Lecturer, School of Modern Languages and Cultures, HKU
  • Prof. Shahla Ali, Professor and Associate Dean (International), Director, Program in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution, Faculty of Law, HKU
  • Applications of Collaborative Online International Learning in Language and Culture Courses
    by Dr. Mercedes Vázquez
    Abstract
    This presentation will guide you through the process of setting up a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) course assignment or a new COIL course. We will describe past COIL experiences at HKU in the fields of teaching language, history and culture with the aim of reflecting on the benefits and challenges of using COIL for Teaching & Learning at HKU. Topics discussed will include the suitability of certain collaborative assignments for achieving a successful learning experience, affective factors involved in cross-cultural collaborations, and COIL’s potential for the development of intercultural and global competences, among others.

    About the speakers

    Dr. Mercedes Vázquez
    Dr. Mercedes Vázquez is currently a Lecturer in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at The University of Hong Kong. In 2021, she was awarded the Faculty Teaching Excellence Award 2020-21 in the Academic-related Staff category. She is a member of the Task Force on Curriculum Reform at the School of Modern Languages and Cultures, and a course reviewer of the Communication Intensive Course initiative at HKU. In her courses on culture, she teaches digital literacies such as videocriticism and virtual reality for teaching and learning, expanding text-centered pedagogies of history and culture. One of her latest pedagogical innovations involves the development of collaborative assignments across continents. She is the author of The Question of Class in Contemporary Latin American Cinema and the Oxford Bibliography of Latin American Cinema, as well as other publications on cinema and the pedagogy of language, literature, and cinema.
    Conceptualising a COIL through building a network of partners
    by Prof. Shahla Ali
    Abstract
    This session will explore preliminary steps to conceptualising a COIL through building a network of partners. The session will draw on recent experiences engaging with Augusto Lopez-Claros, Maja Groff and Arthur Dahl to discuss their book on Global Governance and the Emergence of Global Institutions in a course on Preventative law.

    About the speaker

    Prof. Shahla Ali
    Prof. Shahla Ali is Professor and Associate Dean (International) & Director, Program in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution, Faculty of Law, University of Hong Kong. Shahla’s work centers on questions of governance, development and cross-border dispute resolution in the Asia Pacific region. Her recent books including Soft Law from the Ground Up (Elgar, 2021) Court Mediation Reform (Elgar, 2018), Governing Disasters (Cambridge, 2016), Consumer Financial Dispute Resolution in a Comparative Context (Cambridge, 2013) and Resolving Disputes in the Asia Pacific (Routledge, 2010), have informed legal developments in the Asia Pacific. She has been engaged in dispute resolution reform at the regional and global levels including with USAID, IFC/World Bank and the United Nations on issues pertaining to access to justice, peace process negotiation training, financial dispute resolution and land use conflict resolution.


    [12 Jan 2022] Session 2
    SUNY COIL Center professional insight on challenges and tips on running COIL, how to assess students, provide feedback and evaluation
    The Development of COIL Virtual Exchange 2002 – 2022
    Session 2

    Date : 12 Jan 2023 (Thu)
    Time : 10:30am - 12:00pm (HKT) / 9:30pm to 11:00pm (NY Time)
    Venue : RRS 321 and Zoom
    Speakers :

  • Ms. Hope Windle, Community Development Lead, SUNY COIL Center, The State University of New York
  • Mr. Jon Rubin, Director, COIL Connect for Virtual Exchange
  • SUNY COIL Center professional insight on challenges and tips on running COIL, how to assess students, provide feedback and evaluation
    by Ms. Hope Windle
    Abstract
    In this session, Ms. Hope Windle from SUNY COIL Center will share her professional insight onto how to start a COIL, challenges and tips on running COIL, how to assess students, provide feedback and evaluation.
     
    The session will be held in a synchronous hybrid format for colleagues who are eager to learn about this pedagogic modality.

    About the speakers

    Hope Windle
    Ms. Hope Windle is the Director of the SUNY COIL Center. She empowers the 147+ institutions in the SUNY COIL Global Network. With 16 years coordinating virtual exchange, and an instructional design background, Hope amplifies voices, generates COIL initiatives, facilitates workshops within the worldwide COIL Virtual Exchange community. Most importantly, she, together with the community, focuses the work of COIL on Trans-Languaging, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, as well as implementing projects focusing on UN Sustainable Development Goals. She speaks internationally on the value of digitally enhanced, culturally focused, team-based student projects that inspire and enact change locally and globally.
    The Development of COIL Virtual Exchange 2002 – 2022
    by Mr. Jon Rubin
    Abstract
    Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) began to develop at the State University of New York over twenty years ago, but similar variants have been introduced by many institutions around the world. At first, most COILs were organized by individual instructors, but with time the management of projects by COIL Coordinators became central to scaling up COIL at the university. This presentation will review these changes over time and will share data from the COIL Connect web site that provides evidence of this evolution.

    About the speakers

    Jon Rubin
    Mr. Jon Rubin was founder and director of the State University of New York’s COIL Center from 2006-2017. He directed the National Endowment for the Humanities funded: COIL Institute for Globally Networked Learning in the Humanities (2010-13), which engaged 47 U.S. and international universities in COIL. In 2015, he launched the State Department funded US-Mexico Multistate COIL project which linked 18 Mexican higher education institutions with 14 US campuses. He also directed a Stevens Initiative project, linking SUNY students with those at universities in the MENA region. In 2021, he launched COILConnect.org, a workspace for institutions committed to COIL Virtual Exchange. He co-edited the Guide to COIL Virtual Exchange which will be published by Stylus in October 2022.
    [16 Jan 2023] Session 3
    Integrating COIL in engineering and physical sciences
    The Paths We Walk Become Roads: Co-curricular Experiments in International Virtual Exchanges
    Session 3

    Date : 16 Jan 2023 (Mon)
    Time : 12:30pm - 2:00pm (HKT)
    Venue : RRS321 and Zoom
    Speakers :

  • Dr. Sérgio D.N. LOURENÇO, Associate Professor (Geotechnical Engineering), HKU
  • Dr. Jack Tsao, Associate Director, Common Core, HKU
  • Integrating COIL in engineering and physical sciences
    by Dr. Sérgio D.N. Lourenço
    Abstract
    Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is a new initiative of the university to internationalise teaching and learning through online technology. In this presentation, the foundations and principles of COIL will be introduced followed by practical examples on how COIL can be designed and implemented within the engineering and physical sciences with international partners.

    About the speaker

    Sérgio D.N. Lourenço
    Dr. Sérgio D.N. LOURENÇO is an Associate Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong having joined in 2014 from Cardiff University. Sérgio’s first, second and third degrees are from the New University of Lisbon, Kyoto University and Durham University. Sérgio is currently developing functional granular materials for climate-adaptable infrastructure. His work has been awarded the British Geotechnical Association Medal in 2022 jointly with Yao Ting (CAS) and Béatrice Baudet (UCL). Funding, as PI, is from the HK Research Grants Council, with past grants from the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and the Royal Society (UK). He currently sits in two editorial boards (Canadian Geotechnical Journal and Landslides), is a member of EPSRC’s Peer Review College and the International Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, TC211-Ground Improvement. Between 2013-2018, he sat in the Physical Sciences Board of the Royal Society (UK).
    The Paths We Walk Become Roads: Co-curricular Experiments in International Virtual Exchanges
    by Dr. Jack Tsao with COIL partners Dr. Suraiya Hameed, School of Education at the University of Queensland and Dr. Danielle Heinrichs, School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University
    Abstract
    International Virtual Exchanges (IVEs) enabled by digital technology offer a sustainable, equitable, and cost-efficient path for internationalisation in higher education. The Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) framework is an increasingly popular IVE model for universities to foster global cross-institutional student learning experiences. However, designing and realising effective COIL projects can be challenging for teachers and requires intentionality, not just sharing content or bringing students together.
     
    Through sharing two case studies of co-curricular COIL projects organised by HKU Common Core with universities in Australia and the UK, this talk will highlight potential challenges when creating and running COIL projects and practical tips and strategies to mitigate these difficulties. The seminar will discuss pedagogical design, the use of digital technologies and other implementation considerations that may drive engagement, collaboration, socialisation, intercultural communication, and a transformative student experience.

    About the speaker

    Dr. Jack Tsao
    Dr. Jack Tsao is the Associate Director of the Common Core, the holistic trans- and inter-disciplinary undergraduate curriculum at the Unversity of Hong Kong. In teaching and learning, he is focused on initiatives exploring innovative pedagogies and teacher professional development, activating global cross-institutional networks, developing students’ future readiness capacities and building undergraduate research skills through pilot projects around creativity, game design, storytelling, sustainability, and peace and conflict. With a PhD in Education, Jack’s current scholarship focuses on comparative and international education, youth aspirations, the theory of practice, and the sociology of education, grounded through an interdisciplinary lens. His previous background was in organisational learning and development, commercial banking, and entrepreneurship, occupying various leadership roles. He has trained and coached executives and professionals of multinational corporations across banking and finance, education, healthcare, construction, FMCG, and governmental organisations.

    For information, please contact:
    Ms. Lavina Luk, CETL
    Phone: 3917 5272; Email: ytluk89@hku.hk