TAre you ready for the new, COVID-forced, online learning paradigm? This competency-based, skill-building course will help non-U.S. students, first-generation immigrants, and foreign-born professionals better understand and master American online learning, as well as other U.S. virtual environments, for college and career success. In the post-COVID era, the course can also be very instrumental in assisting U.S.-based institutions in organizing remote learning activities for their current or prospective international students.
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The current pandemic has disrupted the world of higher education and work as we know it. Many thousands of international students and professionals can no longer travel internationally at will and must now learn how to effectively study and work remotely. To excel in American online learning and work environments, international students and foreign-born professionals need to know how American universities and companies use the Internet to organize study and work, develop and execute projects, communicate ideas, collaborate, and solve organizational and technical problems. By taking this course, you will learn how to enhance your cultural knowledge and assess potential skill gaps that may hinder your online experience or negatively impact your performance in U.S. virtual learning and work environments. Throughout the course you will systematically review competencies required for online work, come to better understand common barriers for non-native students and professionals, learn how to detect and overcome competency gaps, and develop plans for self-improvement and success. We believe that you will find the course useful and gain new knowledge and skills to become more successful in your remote study/work in the U.S.
The course was previously offered as iMOOC101 and iMOOC102 "Mastering American e-Learning". We have updated it to reflect the new realities of the Post (well, not yet!)-COVID era. We will be glad if you could share your own experiences in navigating the new world of remote teaching, learning, and work.
What You Will Learn
- Pinpoint and examine common challenges for non-U.S. students and foreign-born professionals in American virtual learning and work environments
- Enhance your cultural knowledge and your ability to thrive in U.S. virtual learning and work environments
- Get an inside look at how U.S. universities and companies organize work and study, communicate ideas, and execute projects in online environments
- Develop skills that will allow you to seamlessly navigate American learning environments and succeed in remote work in the U.S.
Syllabus
Week 1
International learners in U.S. online education
In this introductory module, we explain why many international online learners and foreign-born professionals experience problems in American e-learning environments and how they can use a competency-based approach to overcome barriers and become fully proficient for college and career success. Your instructors for this week are Dr. Valeri Chukhlomin, Dr. Dana Gliserman-Kopans, Dr. Michele Forte, and Amy Giaculli. Guest lecturers are Prof. Xenia Coulter and Lorette Pellettiere Calix.
Week 2
Overcoming barriers of technology, language, and culture
This week covers three lessons to help you address the key barriers of technology, language, and culture. The first lesson on technology will help you become familiar with the general expectations regarding the technological competencies necessary for your success in the U.S. university environment. Our goal is to make you an expert user of technology which will empower you navigate comfortably through your online learning program with ease, no matter the school or program in which you are enrolled. The remaining two lessons are designed to help you understand the critical language and cross-cultural factors that might either hinder or help your success as a student in an American setting. The main objective is to master the language and cultural competencies that are needed to fulfill the required tasks for efficient and effective cross-cultural communication. Your instructor for this week is Dr. Bidhan Chandra, capstone task facilitator - Dr. Michele Forte.
Week 3
Navigating the U.S. academic system
In this week, you will become familiar with the U.S. academic system, concentrating especially on communications and the culture of online environments. We will look closely at the American online classroom and review necessary skills. Your instructor for this week is Dr. Dana Gliserman-Kopans, capstone task facilitator - Dr. Michele Forte.
Week 4
Navigating U.S. professional environments
In this week, you will become familiar with the professional contexts of U.S. working environments. We will look closely at employability skills such as self-management, problem solving, creativity, and self-directed learning. We will also examine how ethics, leadership, and teamwork skills may contribute to your success in the U.S. professional context. We will close the week by exploring professional contexts in specific areas. Throughout this week, you will be provided with example scenarios to help you get acquainted with the type of interactions that happen in U.S. environments – both work and learning. Your instructor for this week is Dr. Anant Deshpande, capstone task facilitator - Dr. Michele Forte.
Week 5
The final week: Capstone Project and course review
Whether taking an online course or taking a training module, navigating American e-Learning systems can be rewarding – but also very challenging.In this week, you will submit a Capstone Project. This project will ask you to identify a barrier you might face in this environment, think about the competencies implied in that barrier, and then create your final project -- a plan for improvement. Complete the Capstone Project peer-review assignment and the-end-of-the-course survey.
