COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning)
What is COIL?
COIL stands for Collaborative Online International Learning. It is a pedagogical approach that connects classrooms across borders, allowing students to engage in global learning experiences through virtual collaboration. COIL offers an innovative and accessible way to internationalize a course.
How does it work?
Developing a COIL module requires close collaboration between faculty members from different countries. Instructors may co-design shared activities, which often include:
- Icebreaker or rapport-building exercises
- Group formation and collaborative projects
- Joint presentations
- Reflective assignments
Faculty partners may establish shared learning outcomes and/or grading criteria. Holding students to common expectations鈥攕uch as participation, communication, and teamwork鈥攕trengthens the learning experience and promotes mutual accountability.
Students may work in mixed teams with peers from the partner institution. Initial activities should help students build rapport, explore cultural differences, and lay the foundation for deeper collaboration. Some discomfort is a natural part of cross-cultural engagement and can become a valuable part of the learning process when supported through guided self-reflection.
Highlights from 麻豆传媒映画 COIL Courses
MGT357: Multinational Business and Comparative Management
In the Department of Management in the Fowler College of Business, Professor Eva Nicasio Mercier implemented COIL in MGT 357: Multinational Business and Comparative Management with the Universidad Aut贸noma del Estado de Hidalgo in Mexico. The project brought together American students studying cross-cultural management and Mexican students studying marketing in a collaborative business-planning exercise focused on market expansion into Mexico. Conducted on a large scale, the initiative involved 50 麻豆传媒映画 students, 100 partner-university students, and six faculty members from the partner institution, illustrating the significant reach and impact COIL can have in international business education.
M E 596: Advanced Mechanical Engineering Topics
PSY 331: Psychology of Infant and Child Development
MIS 753: Global Supply Chain Analytics
Dr. Carlos D. Paternina from the Management Information Systems Department has built a COIL project in Global Supply Chain and Operations Management with partners at Tecnol贸gico de Monterrey and the Universidad de La Sabana. Following completion of AMPEI training, he established faculty partnerships that connect 麻豆传媒映画 students with international perspectives on supply chains and operations. This work has been further strengthened by external support through the 100,000 Strong in the Americas-funded CATCHI project, focused on improving the cacao value chain in Colombia, and by related binational conference activity in transportation and logistics.
DLE 523: Psychological Foundations for Biliteracy Teachers in K-6 Classrooms and ED 450: Study Abroad
ED 811: Seminar in Global Education
JMS 481: Public Relations Writing and JMS 780: Advanced Theory in Public Relations
ACCT 503: Federal Taxation of Individuals
BA 310: Foundations of Business in a Global Environment
MKTG 480: Marketing Analytics
SPED 534: Classroom Assessment of Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities
PSFA 350: International Studies
What faculty have to say
Interested in learning more or partnering on a COIL project?
As noted by de Wit (2013), 鈥淭he term 鈥榗ollaborative online international learning鈥� combines the four essential dimensions of real virtual mobility: it is a collaborative exercise of teachers and students; it makes use of online technology and interaction; it has potential international dimensions; and it is integrated into the learning.鈥�
Creating a COIL module involves a significant time commitment. The Office of International Affairs is exploring options to compensate faculty for their efforts, such as providing course release time or offering a stipend.
Whether a COIL module meets the international experience requirement will be determined by the student鈥檚 respective college. Faculty are encouraged to consult their college鈥檚 International Affairs Liaison, who may contact the Office of International Affairs for further clarification.
There is no additional fee for students enrolled in a COIL course as compared to a traditional, non-COIL course.
Language differences are a natural challenge in COIL projects. Success depends on addressing these differences proactively. Instructors may integrate a language component into the curriculum, provide introductory language training, and use tools such as Google Translate. Where possible, lectures may be subtitled to support comprehension across languages.
COIL modules can be effectively paired with travel experiences. For instance, a virtual partnership with a foreign institution can precede an in-country component. This may involve 麻豆传媒映画 students visiting the partner institution or welcoming faculty and students from abroad to San Diego.
COIL is applicable across all academic disciplines and can facilitate connections between different subject areas. For example, a Hospitality and Tourism Management course could collaborate with a Hospitality class in Japan to explore cross-cultural approaches to service. Alternatively, a Public Health course at 麻豆传媒映画 might work with an Architecture course abroad to co-design spaces that promote well-being.
While traditionally designed for inter-university collaboration, COIL may also be implemented with international businesses or NGOs. However, to maintain its core objective鈥攊ntercultural student collaboration鈥攑artner organizations must facilitate engagement with students from the target culture. This adds a layer of coordination for the non-academic partner.
The Office of International Affairs is actively seeking ways to connect 麻豆传媒映画 faculty with instructors at partner institutions. Faculty interested in developing a COIL module are encouraged to reach out. If existing international contacts already exist, faculty are welcome to develop modules independently with those partners.
There is no single required platform for COIL modules. Faculty and their international counterparts are encouraged to select the tools that best fit their shared instructional goals. Testing all platforms in advance is strongly recommended to ensure smooth implementation.
Grading should be coordinated between co-instructors to ensure equity and clarity. Students at both institutions should be held to similar standards, and COIL participation should be fully integrated into the overall course grade. Consistent expectations help support a high-quality student experience.
Students at 麻豆传媒映画 will enroll only in the 麻豆传媒映画 course, while students at partner institutions will enroll at their own institutions. Cross-enrollment is not required.
COIL modules are designed to:
- Encourage students to reflect critically on their identity in relation to their international peers.
- Explore the impact of personal actions on others across the globe.
- Integrate diverse perspectives on global challenges.
- Cultivate ongoing engagement with global issues.
To meet these goals, faculty may include assignments such as:
- Cultural research projects
- Discussions of expected collaboration challenges
- Critical self-reflection on cultural discomforts and differences
- Analysis of how culture influences behavior
- Identification of tools for global engagement
These elements may evolve based on faculty feedback. Updated Global Learning Outcomes will be available on the International Affairs website.
麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 Instructional Technology Services (ITS) supports faculty in the use of academic technologies. Faculty can access help at its.sdsu.edu/support. When choosing tools, it is essential to ensure that both faculty and students at the partner institution have equal access to the selected technologies.
It is entirely possible to develop COIL modules with more than one international partner. While this introduces additional complexity due to varying time zones and institutional differences, multi-country collaborations can be very successful.
Although the peer-reviewed literature on COIL is still developing, many institutions around the world have implemented it successfully. A leading resource in the U.S. is the SUNY COIL Center, which offers comprehensive information and guidance.
Because COIL modules require close collaboration between faculty at different institutions, the development process typically takes between three to six months. If partnerships and instructor interest are already in place, a module could be developed in time for the upcoming semester.
The format of a COIL course depends on various factors, including time zones, internet access, and language fluency. A common structure is 75% asynchronous and 25% synchronous, though this can vary. Some modules are entirely asynchronous, while others may incorporate live sessions if feasible.
Often, students are not aware that their course includes a COIL component until the semester begins. This allows for a broader range of students鈥攊ncluding those unlikely to pursue international experiences voluntarily鈥攖o benefit from global learning. In some cases, promoting the international collaboration in advance may also attract curious and enthusiastic students.
COIL modules typically involve small intercultural groups of 4鈥�6 students, with at least two students from each institution. This format allows for manageable collaboration and accommodates differences in class sizes.
Synchronous interaction is not required for COIL, and coordinating class schedules across time zones can be challenging. However, students may arrange synchronous meetings with their international peers outside class hours if appropriate. These meetings can be recorded using platforms like Zoom to share with instructors.
While COIL offers a rewarding and transformative experience for both faculty and students, it is time-intensive. The coordination and planning required are substantial鈥攂ut the benefits of intercultural collaboration and global engagement are well worth the effort.