Virtual Exchange Training

This training program helps faculty design and incorporate virtual international content and communication activities into existing courses. Through virtual exchange, faculty can connect their UF classes with students and faculty abroad to collaborate on assignments, acquire global perspectives on a given discipline, and develop intercultural competence skills.

If you would like to learn more about the Virtual Exchange Training, please register for one of our upcoming information sessions:

See Information Sessions

 

Virtual Exchange Training Details

Please see the table below for more information on what will be covered in the training. Please click here to view the Spring 2024 syllabus.

Training Content
Module 1
Introduction to Virtual Exchange
  • Types of virtual exchanges.
  • Common challenges implementing virtual exchanges
  • Using Zoom to attend and participate in an online synchronous session
Module 2
Navigating Intercultural Collaborations
  • Scheduling synchronous sessions while accounting for time zones
  • Creating strategies to encourage students to examine and develop their intercultural competency
  • Identify resources to find a VE partner and traits that make two partners compatible
Module 3
Designing a Virtual Exchange: Task Design
  • Develop a Virtual Exchange outline using course design principles
  • Applying telecollaborative task design theory to virtual exchange using the typology of 12 different types of tasks and task sequences identified by O’Dowd and Waire.
  • Recognizing the elements of measurable student learning objectives
Module 4
Utilizing Technology Effectively
  • List of tools to enhance virtual exchange
  • Analyzing technological needs
  • Self-assessing readiness to use new technology
Module 5
Implementing VE at UF: Final Projects
  • Developing a virtual exchange lesson plan
  • Presenting a virtual exchange project targeting a specific audience (e.g. students, potential partners, colleagues, administrators).
  • Identifying procedures and requirements for implementing virtual exchange at the University of Florida.
  • Identifying resources and services at UF that will assist in the development of virtual exchanges.

Eligibility:

  • Tenured and tenure-track UF faculty, lecturers, and other non-tenured faculty who have ongoing teaching appointments in an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting unit. Applications from adjunct faculty will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Visiting faculty are not eligible.
  • Staff with responsibilities that involve running student educational programming (i.e., Student Life staff) are eligible.

Mode:

  • Online training with some synchronous sessions. Training takes 2 hours per week of independent work plus one hour of synchronous online interaction with facilitators, other course participants, and/or international partners.

Deliverable:

  • Proposal for a virtual exchange module to be implemented within 2 semesters

Award:

  • All participants will receive a digital badge upon completion of the program. UF Faculty will receive $500 in professional development funds pending budgetary approval. This training counts for 500 miles toward the Global Teaching and Learning Certificate. 

Duration:

  • 15-hour online training, taking place over six weeks

Important Dates:

  • Application Deadline: November 1st, 2023
  • Course Orientation: February 5-9, 2024
  • Program Dates: February 12-March 22, 2024

Requirements:

  • Complete the

    Virtual Exchange Training Application Form.

  • An international partner is strongly recommended but not required. Assistance finding a partner is available through the course organizers.

Questions:

Office of Global Learning, Carrie Martins – cmartins@ufic.ufl.edu