Apr 28, 2023
COLLABORATION IN THE VIRTUAL CLASSROOM - SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF THE JOINT MODULE WITH THE WEST UKRAINIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY (TERNOPIL, UKRAINE)
Collaboration in the Virtual Classroom – Successful Kickoff of the Joint Module with West Ukrainian National University (Ternopil, Ukraine)
April 26, 2023, marked the kickoff of the 76th edition of the Virtual Collaborative Learning (VCL) module at the Chair of Information Management (WIIM). This year, the VCL module was organized in collaboration with the West Ukrainian National University (Ternopil, Ukraine) as a part of the "Ukraine Digital II" project, funded by DAAD. VCL stands for a complex learning scenario approach and best practice framework for transferring learning in small groups into the virtual space, which has been researched and developed for almost 20 years at the Chair of Information Management at the TU Dresden.
The scenario for the VCL was developed in collaboration with 17 WUNU educators, who received on-site training on the COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) framework and accomplished a 10-week online e-tutor qualification program earlier in 2022 (Ukraine Digital I). The piloting of the joint module in this summer semester represents the next step towards the sustainable integration of COIL courses into the respective local study programs at WUNU, with the possibility for students to earn ECTS credits and grades.
For the next six weeks, 12 Ukrainian and 17 German students will work in small groups of 5 to 6 participants to outline a proposal for the Marshall Plan for restructuring and digitalization of Ukrainian Higher Education System. All groups are supported by e-tutor tandems comprising one German and one Ukrainian e-tutor who have completed the e-tutor qualification program. The participants will work together on the virtual platform Microsoft Teams, having access to necessary communication tools for their collaboration.
The VCL will be also supported by accompanying research to ensure the quality management of the launched module. This includes preparation of the materials for the upcoming evaluative workshop with educators from WUNU at the Chair of Information Management in Dresden and subsequent dissemination activities on the international level.