#73 Virtual International Collaborations Build Equity, Maturity, and Global Competence with SUNY COIL's Hope Windle
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.
Pain Point
Many 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.
Solution
SUNY 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.
Throughout the conversation, Hope shares:
- What distinguishes COIL from “Mystery Skype”–style exchanges
- Why friction, miscommunication, and failure are essential parts of cross-cultural learning
- How COIL builds student maturity, humility, professional communication skills, and global awareness
- Why virtual exchange is a powerful tool for equity, access, and inclusion, especially for students historically excluded from international experiences
- How the UN Sustainable Development Goals provide a flexible, shared framework across disciplines
Action
Educators across K–12 and higher education can begin rethinking global learning by:
- Designing short, team-based international projects within existing courses
- Prioritizing process, collaboration, and reflection over perfect outcomes
- Allowing students to navigate real-world challenges like time zones, communication styles, and cultural differences—with guidance rather than rescue
- Viewing virtual exchange not as a backup to travel, but as a distinct and powerful pedagogy
Why Distance Learning?
For Hope, distance learning creates space for reflection, grace, and intentional response. By combining synchronous connection with asynchronous thinking time, virtual learning allows diverse voices, languages, and cultures to grow together—right now, not someday in the future.
Episode Links
- SUNY COIL: https://coil.suny.edu
- UN Sustainable Development Goals: http://sdgs.un.org/goals
Host Links
- Discover global virtual learning opportunities and resources at CILC.org with Tami Moehring and Allyson Mitchell.
- Seth Fleischauer’s Banyan Global Learning provides meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students worldwide for success in an interconnected world.
Creators and Guests
