Purpose of this Guide
This guide aims to provide the necessary information, resources, and guidelines that enable instructors to incorporate cross-cultural virtual exchange learning initiatives at McMaster University. While the concept of connecting students from different parts of the world using internet-based tools may seem administratively daunting, the ideas, guidelines, and resources provided in this guide can help educators, students, and institutions throughout the process of engaging in global learning.
We would like to take a moment to acknowledge that this guide was co-created between individuals at McMaster University and Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ). As each person responsible for creating this guide held a different role (i.e., administrators, faculty, and students), this guide therefore reflects a holistic view of the different roles involved in the Virtual Exchange process. Additionally, this guide is intended as a “living” document, open to revisions based on our learning and feedback received from others.
Learning Objectives
The aims of this guide are to:
- Motivate and support educators to offer engaging and global educational experiences by providing learning resources
- Simplify the process of integrating virtual exchange into courses by providing a comprehensive manual
- Outline best practices based on the literature, our experiences, and student feedback
Note: To continue to the next page, please find the button found on the bottom right.