Introductory teacher training | 23 Jan – 19 Feb 2023

This training aims to provide teaching staff with knowledge and tools to create a virtual learning process that fosters intercultural learning and collaboration. 

In the four training modules, participants will learn about the essential elements of designing a collaborative, learner-led exchange process and how a facilitative teaching approach fosters a meaningful intercultural exchange online. After an introduction to the Virtual Exchange pedagogy in VIS context, this training will go into the practical application of the model by: 

• Setting learning goals, 
• understanding the positioning of the learner and the teacher, 
• best practices of designing, 
• and planning a group process to enhance meaningful collaborative learning. 

This training will provide room to practice and evaluate on facilitative teaching approaches. Through weekly self-study and four 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 covered in the training through a collaborative design assignment during ‘Design Lab’.  

Overview 

Duration: 4 weeks, from 23 January – 19 February 2023
Weekly time commitment:

• Self-study: 1,5 -2 hrs.
• Online group session: 2 hrs.

Registration deadline: 30 December 2022
Language: English or Dutch
Weekly group session timeslots:

• English: Tuesday afternoon 15.00-17.00 (Jan 24, Jan 31, Feb 7, Feb 14)
• Dutch: Thursday morning 10.00-12.00 (Jan 26, Feb 2, Feb 9, Feb 16)

Total hours: 14-16 (8 in live sessions + 6-8 asynchronous) 
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:

• Be able to identify the essential elements of designing an effective virtual intercultural learning and collaboration environment; 
• Understand the core components of Virtual Exchange pedagogy in relation to their VIS project; 
• Be able to set learning goals, increase understanding of the roles of various learning methods and identify challenges of VIS;  
• Be able to identify the essential elements of designing an effective virtual intercultural learning and collaboration environment; 
• Understand the importance of a group process in VIS; 
• Understand the role of technology in VIS ;  
• Reflect on the teacher’s role and gain an understanding of a facilitative teaching approach in VIS; 
• Be able to participate in a creative, collaborative design project during Design Lab. 

Modules 

Week 1: Introduction to VIS and Virtual Exchange pedagogy  

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

Week 2: The role of design & the teacher   

• Gain knowledge on how to design your VIS as a successful virtual intercultural collaborative process; 
• Explore challenges in designing successful virtual intercultural collaboration;  
• Increase understanding of the teacher’s role in a learner-led collaborative Virtual Exchange process, and continue to gain knowledge  on the role of facilitative teaching.  

Week 3: Foundational skills in online facilitation for teachers 

• Learn about best practices of this collaborative, learner-led intercultural exchange approach;  
• Further build your project design skills by mapping the specific needs for implementing VIS projects going forward; 
• Gain knowledge on how to collaborate with other teaching staff on successful VIS projects, and continue to add tools to your facilitation toolbox; 

Week 4: Dive deeper

• Gain knowledge on the best practices of this collaborative, learner-led intercultural exchange approach; 
• Complete the collaborative Design Lab assignment; 
• Reflect on the learning/training experience, both as a participant and as a group.  

Attendance & participation 

Trainees are expected to be available on their preferred time slot 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 review.  

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.