{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Why Distance Learning?","title":"#73 Virtual International Collaborations Build Equity, Maturity, and Global Competence with SUNY COIL's Hope Windle","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2595,"description":"In this episode of Why Distance Learning, Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Hope Windle, Director of SUNY COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning). Together they unpack what COIL actually is, how it works inside real courses, and why it gives all students—not just those who can study abroad—access to meaningful international collaboration. Drawing on years of experience connecting students across countries, languages, and disciplines, Hope explains why meaningful collaboration isn’t about content mastery alone, but about process, perspective, and growth.\nPain Point\nMany educators believe that authentic global learning requires travel, study abroad programs, or well-funded international exchanges—opportunities that remain inaccessible to most students. Even when virtual connections exist, they are often superficial, short-lived, or focused on “learning about” others rather than learning with them.\nSolution\nSUNY COIL offers a project-based, faculty-driven model that embeds international collaboration directly into existing courses. Rather than one-off calls or presentations, students work in mixed international teams on shared problems—ranging from food insecurity and data visualization to journalism, astrophysics, and app design.\nThroughout the conversation, Hope shares:\nWhat distinguishes COIL from “Mystery Skype”–style exchanges\nWhy friction, miscommunication, and failure are essential parts of cross-cultural learning\nHow COIL builds student maturity, humility, professional communication skills, and global awareness\nWhy virtual exchange is a powerful tool for equity, access, and inclusion, especially for students historically excluded from international experiences\nHow the UN Sustainable Development Goals provide a flexible, shared framework across disciplines\nAction\nEducators across K–12 and higher education can begin rethinking global learning by:\nDesigning short, team-based international projects within existing courses...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/2eKPm8ob1eS5Ju0DBuhPXRKuQv7Vx4cWT0c4uWSYbCQ/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS82MmFh/MmQyYTc4NzdkNGJh/MzIzZWU5MmI3MzRk/MjQwYy5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}