Here at SUNY Ulster, we have several courses hosting COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) projects. Students can sign up for these classes and learn to communicate within collaborative teams, which pair a SUNY Ulster team with a team from a college in another country. COIL courses give Ulster students the opportunity to learn from another culture, which is increasingly important in today’s global market.
I didn’t know anything about the COIL program until I took an entrepreneurship class during the Spring 2018 semester. I was already excited to learn about the different aspects of starting and running a business when I discovered that our class would be participating in a COIL project. Our professor, Dr. Mindy Kole, explained that our class would be working with students from the Netherlands. I was excited, but I had no idea how it was going to work. How would we work with students that far away? How would we meet? When would we meet? What would we do?
For a six week period, the class interacted in assigned groups with students from the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS). First, Ulster students met the Dutch course’s teacher, Eva Haug, Professor and COIL Coordinator at AUAS. Dr. Kole assigned our class to look up interesting facts about the Netherlands. A meeting was set up using the Zoom video conferencing application via the internet. An overhead projector was also set up so the class could see and meet Professor Haug. Each of us had an opportunity to ask questions about the Netherlands. Professor Haug asked the Ulster class a number of questions about the United States. It was an exciting cultural exchange. We learned many new things about the Netherlands, and we were able to share our perspectives about our own culture. It was fun to discover the many differences and similarities.
During our Entrepreneurship COIL class project, we were separated into groups. Small groups of Ulster students were given two or three student partners in Amsterdam. We were assigned to reach out to these students using the mobile apps we already carry on our cell phones. Some students used Facebook Messenger, some used WhatsApp, and some used Skype. The class buzzed with conversation about the different mobile apps they preferred. We were also required to use our international dialing code to reach students in the Netherlands – something not usually done in the United States.
Our COIL project provided an opportunity for our class to build teamwork and communication skills. We were able to work with people from another culture and share our experiences. We used Facebook and WhatsApp to collaborate, ask questions, and send photos from our hometown. Dr. Kole and Professor Haug guided us every step of the way with project outlines and protocols to follow. My team project consisted of a report and PowerPoint presentation on social entrepreneurship, where the goal of a business is to make a profit while providing a benefit to society. It was fascinating to learn how the United States and the Netherlands approach this type of business model.
I highly recommend COIL courses. They allow students to build 21st century skills of communication, teamwork, and problem solving, all at no additional tuition cost to class participants. It is a great experience to put on a resume, and students also receive a COIL certificate upon completion of the course. We live in a time when we can communicate over vast distances with mobile apps and internet connections. Why not use these tools to learn and build relationships around the world? SUNY Ulster students should be the first to take advantage of this unique academic opportunity!
Joanna Munley is a first-year Business Accounting major at SUNY Ulster. She also serves as the Student Aide for the COIL/Academic Travel program.
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