The Centre for Teaching and Learning Development held a seminar on June 12, 2023, exploring the vast landscape of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL). This erudite exchange of knowledge, orchestrated seamlessly both online and offline, featured Dr. Tris Kee as the primary intellectual catalyst. Dr. Kee, an esteemed Senior Lecturer at the Centre of the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning at the University of Hong Kong, provided an enriching intellectual feast. The seminar's discourse has intricately woven the threads of her multifaceted scholarly pursuits, global pedagogical experiences, and a robust research pedigree—thereby cultivating an engaging narrative on the subject matter.

This lecture spotlighted the pioneering pedagogical concept of COIL—an inventive strategy to infuse international elements into higher education. By knitting together the diverse threads of faculty and student experience from around the globe, COIL creates a tapestry of cross-cultural understanding, hones intercultural communication skills, and enables students to navigate the globalized workforce successfully. Grounding the theory in practical terms, Dr. Kee elaborated on the design and delivery mechanisms of COIL courses. Drawing from her illustrious experience in leading international workshops, she underscored the need for clear objectives, active intercultural communication, and robust technical infrastructure to make the COIL approach not just feasible, but efficient and enriching. Meanwhile, Dr. Kee also shared many resources and tools she has found particularly productive and helpful.

Nevertheless, challenges in implementing COIL were not overlooked. Issues such as overcoming cultural differences, handling time-zone disparities, and dealing with language barriers were also discussed in depth, offering a balanced view of the COIL approach. Dr. Kee provided insight into the common difficulties faced by both instructors and students in these areas.

The seminar also shed light on the dynamic spectrum of assessment strategies suitable for COIL courses, painting a comprehensive picture of methods such as rubrics, peer evaluations, and reflective writing assignments. These tools, Dr. Kee argued, are instrumental in monitoring the learning outcomes of COIL courses, ensuring that the pedagogical innovation delivers on its promises. In the Q&A session, this aspect has piqued considerable interest, sparking an in-depth and enriching discourse among participants.

To conclude, the seminar was more than a discussion. Dr. Kee’s academic acumen, coupled with her practical insights, offered a holistic overview of the COIL approach, making the seminar an invaluable resource for educators aspiring to integrate this method into their teaching arsenal. As we stand at the precipice of a new era in global education, such insightful exchanges are indispensable to fostering innovation and enhancing the teaching-learning landscape.

Reported by Suyun Xu

Proofread by Wenting Xing, Jinyan Bai

Reviewed by Yihong Qiu