New Virtual Training Course: E-learning, intercultural communication, and interdisciplinarity
In the scope of the Academic Collaboration Chile Sweden (ACCESS) platform’s aim to train its network members interested in developing joint multidisciplinary doctoral courses with a focus on Agenda 2030, interested staff from member universities are invited to participate in an online training focused on quality teaching in a digital learning environment, including a focus on teaching across disciplinary and academic borders.
Length: This training is equivalent to 1 week of full-time work, both on one’s own and during the scheduled meetings (attendance required).
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO’s)
Upon completion of this training, participants are expected to be able to:
Reflect upon the role of academic culture in teaching and learning practices
Consider concrete ways in which to give culturally-sensitive feedback to both colleagues and future students
Create activities for synchronous meetings in online courses
Create recorded material to use in asynchronous teaching
Find and adapt existing material such as films and written texts to use in distance teaching
Describe and discuss opportunities and challenges that may arise in interdisciplinary research collaborations
Course structure
The course will be taught in a digital learning environment, with the use of the Learning Management System (LMS) Canvas. The training includes four synchronous meetings via Zoom (see dates below) as well as asynchronous discussions and assignments to be completed in between meetings.
Participation in all four synchronous meetings is required.
• Course meeting 1: Intercultural competence and communication
4 May 2023, 15-18 (CEST), 9-12 (CLST)
In the first synchronous meeting, participants will explore the meaning of culture and its different aspects, focusing on its impact on teaching and learning practices but also on communication. The session includes a discussion about giving feedback across cultures.
• Course meeting 2: Interdisciplinarity
15 May 2023, 15-18 (CEST), 9-12 (CLST)
In the second meeting, participants will learn about the experiences of starting and developing The Center for Climate and Resilience Research, which is an interdisciplinary research center combining the shared expertise of Chilean scholars devoted to understanding the Earth and climate change. From these experiences, participants will have the opportunity to reflect upon important considerations when initiating or conducting interdisciplinary research.
• Course meeting 3: E-learning, part 1: Online course design, digital tools, Flipped Classroom
30 May 2023, 15-18 (CEST), 9-12 (CLST)
In the third meeting, participants will develop knowledge and practical skills needed for planning an effective and engaging online course applicable for 21st century learning. Additionally, participants will explore and practically apply various synchronous and asynchronous methods through the Flipped Classroom Approach and expand their knowledge of digital tools applicable in both online and ‘blended’ classrooms.
• Course meeting 4: E-Learning, part 2: Instructional Videos, Online Discussions
14 June 2023, 15-18 (CEST), 9-12 (CLST)
In the fourth meeting, participants will be introduced to and have a chance to enhance the e-learning environment through implementation of various didactical techniques. During meeting 4, participants will create visual media and explore strategies for increasing interaction in online learning.
Course Registration
Those interested in participating in this course should register via the following email epu@slu.se.
Training leaders
Alexandra D´Urso
Alexandra D’Urso is an educational developer at SLU’s Educational Development Unit. An educational researcher by training, Alexandra has written about educational policy in the United States and about how learning can occur both inside and outside formal sites of education. At SLU, Alexandra teaches courses on educating for critical thinking and criticality, and on teaching active e-learning. Alexandra also advises teachers and program study directors on the progression and teaching of generic skills in SLU’s degree programs. Alexandra is also active in a five-year SIDA-project subcomponent training research supervisors and developing generic skills courses at Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo, Mozambique.
Natalie Jellinek
Natalie Jellinek is Educational Developer and International Project Coordinator at both the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and Karolinska Institutet (KI). In this capacity, she runs faculty courses on teaching in the international classroom and works with the development and implementation of strategic policy documents related to the internationalization of education and integration of Agenda 2030. She has been the project manager for several international capacity development initiatives and currently coordinates the educational development component of a partnership with Eduardo Mondlane University of Mozambique (2018-2022) and one with Universidad Mayor San Simón (UMSS) in Bolivia. She is currently engaged in curricular development within the university network Global Challenges University Aliance (GCUA 2030). Natalie has a background in International Education and has worked at the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU) in Washington, D.C. and as an Advisor for the European Union while stationed in Brasilia.
Ludmila Kalasnikova
Ludmila Kalasnikova is an EMI coordinator at the Postgraduate English Programme (Department of Postgraduate Studies, Vice-Presidency of Academic Affairs) at Universidad de Chile. Her role includes the development and implementation of blended teacher training courses related to the internationalisation of curriculum and education within the Universidad de Chile setting. Additionally, she is involved in the creation of an EMI community of practice focused on effective pedagogical techniques and strategies applicable for a multilingual and multicultural learning environment. Currently, she is involved in the design of a CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) online course in collaboration with University of Heidelberg and an EMI (English Medium Instruction) MOOC for EOL (Online Education Office, Vice-Presidency of Information Technologies, Universidad de Chile). Her research interest lies in EMI methodology and didactics, English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) within higher education (HE), and teacher professional development programmes.
Jennifer Valcke
Jennifer Valcke is an Educational Developer at the Unit for Teaching and Learning at Karolinska Institutet (KI) in Sweden. Her role includes teaching, training and advising on issues related to internationalisation of the curriculum, intercultural education and sustainable education. Jennifer provide support and prepare teaching staff for the challenges of the multilingual and multicultural learning space; she is involved in ensuring quality in English-Medium Education (EME); and she also provides support for educational leaders to implement KI’s strategy 2030. Jennifer has a background in linguistics, film studies and International Education. She has lived/worked/studied in Belgium, Nigeria and Scotland before moving to Sweden.
Laura Gallardo Klenner
Laura Gallardo is a Professor at the Geophysics Department (DGF), University of Chile. She acted as the founding director for the Center of Excellence for Climate and Resilience Research. Her research interests are broad and cover atmospheric modeling and data assimilation, tropospheric ozone, air quality in mega cities, and lately short-lived climate pollutants. She has been the leader for a scientific network and project studying South American Megacities (SAEMC, 2006-2012). Currently, she acts as Director for research line on Resilient Cities at the Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR)2, a center of excellence intended to deepen our understanding of the climate system, its natural and anthropogenic changes and its consequences on society.