Questions to consider
You might be able to answer some of the questions below yourself. However, talking to other instructors, department staff, students, and the Global Learning team may also be helpful.
General
- Should you run a travel, hybrid, or virtual program?
- How long will it be?
- Which courses will be offered?
- How do they differ from those you teach on campus?
- Will you need a Program Assistant? Note: Faculty of Arts requires a Program Assistant if there is only one instructor on the program.
- How will you consider the student experience in terms of equity, diversity, and inclusion?
Program recruitment
- How many students on campus would be eligible, and what is your exclusion criteria?
- Will other GSPs or field schools running at the same time be recruiting from the same student pool?
- Could your program appeal to students from other Alberta institutions? If so, do you have colleagues who may be interested in promoting this opportunity?
- What are possible obstacles to student participation?
Travel programs
These programs traditionally involve international travel and provide you the opportunity to take your classroom into the field and offer a set of courses complementary to the destinations being visited. Using existing research and teaching connections, or through the development of new global connections, you can tailor your program’s courses to give students firsthand, experiential knowledge of your subject matter.
You may want to ask yourself some of the following questions before planning a travel program:
- Where will the program take place?
- Are there any risks associated with travel there?
- Will you have other in field contacts or support?
- How will you use your environment to the fullest to enhance your students' learning?
- Are there any special requirements or equipment needed by students to participate?
- How affordable is the program for students?
Virtual or hybrid programs
These consist of globally-themed online courses situated within one discipline and/or associated with specific geographic locations. They provide opportunities for students to collaborate in international partnerships (institutional or organizational) and to connect with students located in the regions of study.
Hybrid programs have the best of both travel and virtual programs!
You may want to ask yourself some of the following questions before planning a virtual or hybrid program:
- Will you be working with a partner institution?
- Will students need to pay any additional fees, other than tuition for the courses associated with the program?
- How will you take advantage of the virtual nature of the program?
- Do you need additional resources for the program?
If you plan on running a hybrid or virtual program, please check out our webpage for resources and support for COIL and virtual collaboration.