Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is a type of virtual exchange that connects two or more remote classrooms in different regions through collaborative activities. As a low-cost, accessible, and scalable method of global learning, COIL has become one of the largest virtual exchange networks in recent years. In this presentation, we will illustrate two cases of COIL at two U.S. higher education institutions collaborating with a Japanese university and discuss how COIL can enhance active learning in language classrooms.

The first case entails an elementary Japanese course at a U.S. university and a Project-Based Learning course at a Japanese university working on the topic of accessibility on college campuses. Students reflected on and discussed ideas and issues related to accessibility on their own campuses, which contributed to the Japanese students creating accessibility maps for their campus.
The second case was conducted a year later and involved an advanced-level Japanese course at a U.S. university and the Project-Based Learning course at the same Japanese university. Students selected a topic of social issues, such as decreasing birth rates, mental health, overtourism, etc., created research questions, researched online, discussed online with their COIL partners, presented their research in the form of a video in the target language.

The overarching theme of the two cases was kyosei (coexistence or harmony), and the COIL format encouraged students to actively engage in the learning process of finding potential solutions. In addition to demonstrating the affordances of COIL, this presentation will also discuss challenges and pedagogical implications.

Authors:
Tomoe Nishio, University of North Georgia, United States
Miho Hamamoto, University of Denver, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Tomoe Nishio is Associate Professor in the Department of Modern Languages at the University of North Georgia. She teaches Japanese and linguistics and regularly conducts Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects in her courses.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomoenishio/

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

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