Global Virtual Classroom

We are running our Global Virtual Classroom again.  In fact, we have been running it for several years now.  It is basically a joint course that we offer together with another university over the Internet.  This year we are working again with the University of Maryland.  On our side we are offering a course on Cross-boundary Service-Learning and Leadership, while Maryland is offering a course on Global Leadership.  Because we have a larger class, we divide our students into two groups and put them in different rooms, so we end up with 2 groups of PolyU students and 1 group of Maryland students. 

Today they are discussing the digital divide: the uneven distribution of access to information technology across countries and communities.  The class is conducted in multiple modes.  A professor from either university leads a lecture or class discussion with all students participating.  

We also divide the students into small groups, with students from both universities in each group, and let them work on assignments and projects together.  

Sometimes they work intensively on their own for a while. 

They then come back to report to the whole class.  

This way students get to work with students from another university from another country from another continent, with very different language, cultural, economical and political backgrounds.  It may not be as direct and effective as travelling there to have physical contact.  But it provides that learning experience to a much wider range of students, without the cost in finances and time involved in travelling.  And it can be much more flexible, taking place for a much longer period of time overall with breaks in between. 

In itself it is another manifestation of the digital divide - some communities have access to this form of internationalisation in learning, but not others.