Internationalization of K-12 Schooling through Virtual Exchange: Opportunities in a Fractured Context

Abstract

The study considers the opportunities and barriers facing the implementation of virtual exchange in K-12 education in the context of the federal US education system through examining a domestic program offered by Empatico known as Empathy Across the US. Our findings point to several of the known barriers in the facilitation of virtual exchange, including technology access and pressing demands facing teachers, both of which impact accessibility. As K-12 virtual exchange programs often rely on the willingness of teachers to implement these kinds of programs outside of the official school curriculum, our research indicated the importance of having leaders or “champions” within participating schools and districts, as those individuals, whether another teacher, principal, or another staff member, provide systemic and structural support to teachers to bring virtual exchange into their classrooms. This study offers insights into how teachers in different settings perceive and experience the implementation of virtual exchange.