Advanced teacher training | 20 March – 14 April 2023

The advanced teacher training consist of four weeks of self-study combined with live online group training sessions, with a combined estimated 4-4.5 hours of weekly workload.  This training is designed for teachers who already have previous experience in designing and implementing international virtual collaborations in any shape or form. In the four training modules, participants will gain a deeper understanding of designing and evaluating an effective, collaborative, learner-led online exchange process.  

The training will start with an introduction on Virtual Exchange pedagogy, after which the training will dive into the practical application of the model. Using best practices to design and plan a group process for meaningful learning. The training also focuses on how to ensure a quality learner experience and measurable impact through monitoring and evaluation. Additionally, during the training there are opportunities to reflect on facilitative teaching, and the educator’s role in the collaborative learning process.  

By weekly self-study and four live online group meetings, participants will experience first-hand how combining synchronous and asynchronous learning components enhance learner engagement. Participants will gain first-hand experience with the tools that are covered in the training through the collaborative design assignment ‘Design Lab’. 

Overview

Duration: 4 weeks, from 20 March – 14 April 2023
Weekly time commitment:

• Self-study: 2-2.5 hrs.
• Online group session: 2 hrs.

Registration deadline: 3 March 2023
Language: English or Dutch
Weekly group session timeslots:

• English: Tuesday afternoon 15.00-17.00 (Mar 21, Mar 28, Apr 4 and Apr 11)
• Dutch: Thursday morning 10.00-12.00 (Mar 23, Mar 30, Apr 6 and Apr 13)

Total hours: 16-18
Platforms: Canvas/Zoom
Successful completion:

• Attend at least 3 out of 4 synchronous sessions; 
• Complete 80% of the module self-study tasks.

Learning objectives

By taking this training, participants will: 

• Increase understanding of the role of various learning methods and identify challenges of Virtual Exchange pedagogy in the VIS project; 
• Be able to set learning goals for a VIS project and understand how to reach these through group process; 
• Be able to design engaging virtual intercultural collaborative learning experiences by combining asynchronous and synchronous components; 
• Gain an understanding of different monitoring and evaluation methods for VIS; 
• Identify opportunities and challenges of technology in VIS;  
• Reflect on the teacher role and gain an understanding of the role of facilitative teaching in VIS; 
• Participate in a collaborative design project and assess impact of a VIS project design. 

Modules 

Week 1: Introduction to the Virtual Exchange pedagogy & design 

• Gain knowledge on the Virtual Exchange pedagogy and its benefits for VIS; 
• Explore the teacher role in a learner-led, collaborative Virtual Exchange approach; 
• Increase your understanding of the role technology plays in successful design and implementation of effective VIS projects; 
• Deepen your knowledge on how to design successful virtual intercultural learning processes for your VIS; 

Week 2: Adding impact to the learning process 

• Increase understanding on the goals and possibilities for student learning in VIS; 
• Deepen your understanding on how to ensure student skill development throughout the VIS;  
• Learn about ways to promote synchronous and asynchronous engagement in the VIS to achieve learning goals; 
• Explore challenges in designing successful virtual intercultural learning and collaboration in VIS;  

Week 3: Monitoring and evaluation in VIS process design 

• Learn about tools for monitoring and evaluation to assess impact in your VIS; 
• Gain knowledge on methods for successful quality control;  
• Explore best practices of this collaborative, learner-led intercultural exchange approach;  
• Further build your design skills by mapping the ‘monitoring and evaluation’ for your VIS project. 

Week 4: Get creative! 

• Gain knowledge on how to collaborate with other teaching staff on successful VIS projects; 
• Deepen your virtual exchange expertise by learning about the application of the different monitoring and evaluation methods for VIS; 
• Explore best practices of this collaborative, learner-led intercultural exchange approach;   
• Complete the collaborative design project and finalize your ‘Design Lab’ assignment. 

Attendance & participation 

Trainees are expected to be available for the full duration of the training (4 weeks) and participate actively in the online group sessions with working camera and audio. In between training sessions, materials are provided in the virtual learning environment to engage with, and to work on with fellow trainees, in preparation for the synchronous sessions.  

Trainees are required to: 

• Attend at least 3 out of 4 synchronous sessions; 
• Complete 80% of the module self-study tasks.  

Registrations are now closed.