Interuniversity Global Student Collaboration During COVID-19

During the Spring of 2020, schools and universities across the world were among the institutions that had to close down their activities due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Because of its high contagiousness, students and faculty were prevented from having regular on-site synchronous classes. Following lockdown, innovative and virtual learning projects were designed to continue amid the pandemic. In order to provide students with novel, digital, collaborative experiences that enhanced their particular course learning outcomes, a two-week global teaming activity between two different universities (located in Illinois, U.S.A. and Mexico City, Mexico) was designed and implemented during the lockdown. The technical tools, digital environments, expected skill development and resources were planned during the design period, and included a theoretical framework that guided the activity. The results obtained from the experience varied as regards the use and acquired skills from collaborative, real-time technological tools, as well as different approaches to problem-solving between the participating teams. Results also reflect how cultural, language and generational differences played out during the teaming activity, between both students and faculty members.

Durante la primavera de 2020, escuelas y universidades alrededor del mundo se encontraron dentro de las instituciones que tuvieron que suspender sus actividades derivado del cierre por COVID-19.Debido a su alto nivel de contagio, alumnos y profesores fueron prevenidos de tener clases síncronas presenciales regulares. Para continuar en medio de la pandemia, se diseñaron proyectos de aprendizaje innovadores y virtuales. Con el fin de proveer a los alumnos con experiencias novedosas, digitales y colaborativas que mejoraran los resultados de aprendizajes de sus cursos en particular, se diseñó e implementó durante el cierre de emergencia sanitaria, una actividad de equipos globales, entre dos universidades (ubicadas en Illinois, EE. UU. la Ciudad de México, México) de dos semanas. Las herramientas tecnológicas, ambientes digitales, recursos y habilidades a desarrollar esperadas fueron establecidas durante el periodo de diseño incluyendo un marco teórico desde el cual los estudiantes fueron capaces de llevar a cabo e involucrarse durante la actividad. una vez que la actividad se llevó a cabo, los resultados obtenidos de la experiencia variaron en su uso y habilidades adquiridas, de las herramientas colaborativas y en tiempo real, a los diferentes acercamientos a la resolución de problemas en los equipos participantes, a finalmente la forma en la que las diferencias culturales, generacionales y de idioma tuvieron un papel durante la actividad, tanto entre los estudiantes como los profesores.

Project and collaboration overview -- About Northwester University and Universidad Panamericana -- Designing a collaborate globlar project for a virtual teaching and learning environment -- The collaboration in action with students -- Learnings, outcomes and key findings for future collaborations