Interuniversity Global Student Collaboration During COVID-19

Abstract

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.