UNIC 'Virtual Exchange' 8 April 2025 by Risbo

Welcome!

Risbo — 2023-01-12 12:54:20 UTC

A very warm welcome to the MicroLab: How to integrate Virtual Exchange into your Course. During this workshop, you will be introduced to the concept of Virtual Exchange (VE).

You will work on redesigning your own course so that Virtual Exchange can be integrated. You can do this on your own or together with your colleague from the partner university you are connected to.

This workshop has a blended design: an obligatory individual preparation here. The session and a ‘Proof of Competence’.

In this Padlet you can find the instructions and resources for 3 preparatory assignments. The preparation will probably take 2 hours to complete. With this preparations you guarantee yourself a valid entry ticket for the training session, where we will further elaborate on the assignments. In other words, the assignments are obligatory to participate in the training session.

Good luck and we wish you a pleasant learning experience!

Present yourself

Risbo — 2023-01-12 12:55:02 UTC

Before we get started... We would like to know more about you as a teacher.

For virtual exchange, an online introduction is essential. It is the first time students and teachers meet each other. Online introductions can, of course, take place in a variety of ways. One of the ways we are going to use to get to know each other is by introducing yourself with a photo.

Please post a photo of yourself and introduce yourself. Share the following:

- Who are you?

- Where do you live?

- At which university do you teach?

- What courses do you teach?

- Why are you motivated to participate in this MicroLab?

- One funny personal fact.

If the media upload function does not work, you can try to choose for the option to add an attachment. This has worked for us!

You can use this activity yourself to let students introduce them to each other. You could give them several questions; personal and/or related to the subject they will be following.

We are looking forward to your photos!

Risbo — 2023-01-12 12:58:52 UTC

Please watch the video to learn more about virtual exchange.

What questions do you have?

Risbo — 2023-01-12 13:00:31 UTC

In the previous column you read an infographic and watched a video about the concept of Virtual Exchange.

Below, add 1-2 questions/possible challenges you might face and 1-2 opportunities you see for integrating virtual exchange in your course.

You can post your response by clicking on the "add comment" below. If you are not logged in with an account, then please also leave your name in the comment.

The basis of a good course design

Risbo — 2023-01-12 13:01:08 UTC

The importance of constructive alignment with VE

A good course design is crucial for any curriculum. The model of Constructive Alignment is a basic model that shows how different elements in a course have to be in line with each other in order to have a good course. Also for a course in which you incorporate virtual exchange, the basis of the course needs to be good. In addition, it is important that the virtual exchange is also reflected in the learning objectives that you have. In this way you ensure that the course as a whole is still aligned.

In the assignment in the next column we will ask you to (1) formulate opportunities you see for virtual exchange within your course and (2) to show in which of current learning objectives you think VE could be added. To be able to do so it is important to know what the model of constructive alignment entails and what well formulated learning objectives look like.

If you already know this, you can immediately go to the next column. If it is new to you, then please go further down this column to watch and read the provided materials about constructive alignment and learning objectives.

Optional: a video that explains the concept of constructive alignment, in case this is new to you.

Risbo — 2023-01-12 13:02:16 UTC

video constructive alignment

Optional: video about formulating learning objectives

Risbo — 2023-01-12 13:03:25 UTC

The video about constructive alignment has shown you that learning objectives are key for a good, aligned design of your course. Only with clear and specific learning objectives, you will be able to make the right decisions in choosing assessment methods and learning activities. What the video above which explains how to write good learning objectives.

Learning objectives that reflect VE

Risbo — 2023-01-12 13:06:02 UTC

As you have learned in the previous column, well formulated learning objectives are the starting point of constructive alignment, and thus a good course design. To integrate virtual exchange in your course, this also needs to be reflected in the learning objectives.

Take your current learning objectives for the course that you would like to use for a virtual exchange. Are they already well formulated following guidelines for learning objectives? If so, it is time to see in which learning objectives you think you could integrate VE.

For this assignment please :

(1) Briefly explain opportunities you see for VE within your course.

and

(2) Show in which of current learning objectives you think VE could be added.

You can bring them to the workshop session or upload them below.

Learning objectives for this MicroLab

Risbo — 2023-01-12 13:11:45 UTC

After following this MicroLab you will be able to:

- Formulate actions to adapt your course design to integrate virtual exchange.
- Motivate the opportunities for enhancing the international experience in your course.
- Select activities/tasks and tools for collaborative and international teamwork of students.
- Discuss possible solutions for basic challenges of virtual exchange.

Choose 2 learning activities from the activity guide

Risbo — 2023-01-12 13:13:41 UTC

Above you'll find an activity guide, filled with ideas that you can use for virtual exchange during teaching.

Please go through the activity guide and pick 2 activities that appeal to you for your own practice .

Share them below by clicking on "add comment" and write down your activities. Please also leave your name in case you are not logged in with an account.

Learn about virtual exchange:

Risbo — 2023-01-12 13:16:36 UTC

Please read the infographic to get to know what virtual exchange entails.

How does this Padlet work?

Risbo — 2023-03-28 14:35:14 UTC

With this Padlet you can prepare yourself for the workshop session. Therefore, simply go through the columns.

To post/upload an assignment you can click on the +button on top of the column.

You can also respond to each other or to the assignment by writing in the "add comment" section that you see below each square.

To test this, please write "greetings from ..." below this post :)

Risbo — 2024-03-04 15:19:41 UTC

I live in Rotterdam and I am an educational consultant at Erasmus University. Topics that have my interest are active learning, visualisation and learning innovation. A fun fact about me is that I call myself a boomer all the time, but I'm actually on the border between Gen X and Millenials ;-)

See you 8 April in the Teams Meeting!

Risbo — 2025-03-19 09:32:09 UTC

Risbo — 2025-03-19 09:38:09 UTC

Hi! I am Jamie, and I work as an educational consultant at Risbo, where I am mainly involved in teacher professionalization. I find inclusive education and assessment very interesting. A fun fact about me is that I love going to theme parks in my free time!

ane_gutierrez2 — 2025-03-27 12:11:02 UTC

Hi! I’m Ane from Bilbao. I work at the University of Deusto in the Department of Medicine, where I teach Biomedical Laboratory, Genetics, and Microbiology. Fun fact about me: once I get back from a trip, I can’t wait more than 10 days before booking the next one!

2025-04-02 17:04:50 UTC

Hi, nice to meet you all here. I am Annet from Maastricht. Not much into photos so do not have one quickly available now. I travelled to and worked in many countries. All continents not yet achieved ;). Worked in education in public, private, non profit, profit, regular, special, .... so always interested in how to enhance learning. Have been teaching in the psychology department (coordinator diagnostics) but at the moment more statistics, methods and theses in media and communication. I enjoy intercultural communication and wish for students to have chances for such cooperation. I enjoy simple long nature walks. Fun fact: did scuba diving off a remote coast in Indonesia.

Great materials (clips & activities guide), modelling constructive alignment.

2025-04-03 08:01:47 UTC

Same question as Tikvar: what safe accessible online options could work as only enrolled students have access to their (different) uni's online environment. Creating in Teams? Independent work options?

2025-04-07 10:44:47 UTC

Hi everyone,

Nice to meet you all. My name is Mutahira Lone. I am a dentist and anatomist working in University College Cork, Ireland. I am the director and lecturer for the MSc in Human Anatomy students and I also teach the dental students. One fun fact about me- I love making new friends.

Matching learning outcomes and courses

2025-04-07 10:50:17 UTC

I have the same question as the others. My course has a small number of students—should the other group also have a similar number? I'm concerned that pairing students might be challenging otherwise.

zahraghaffari3 — 2025-04-08 09:52:08 UTC

Hi all, my name is Zahra Ghaffari Holmgren. Working as lecturer in Malmö university in the field of computer science and software engineering. Very excited to learn more about VE.

I love food and learn more in my free time.

2025-04-08 11:01:53 UTC

This is fantastic.

My name is Emma. I'm in Lodz, working as a researcher. International cooperation is essential for successful research.

zahraghaffari3 — 2025-05-12 12:21:00 UTC

Hi all, my name is Zahra Ghaffari Holmgren. Working as lecturer in Malmö university in the field of computer science and software engineering. Very excited to learn more about VE.

I love food and learn more in my free time.