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COIL Project 2026

National Taipei University of Education

Kyoto Sangyo University

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Dr. Wen-Hsin Chen (Kelly)

Dr. Betsy Lavolette

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COIL: Collaborative online international learning

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COIL schedule

  • Today: Write branching narrative�Enjoy snacks!
  • Session 4: May 19 - Finish branching narrative and prepare to present
  • Session 5: May 26 - Present branching narrative

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Technology tips

  • Use just one computer per group
  • If you use more than one computer, turn on only one microphone and speaker

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Today’s Schedule

  • Teacher lecture (15 min.)
  • Team breakout rooms (45 – 50 min.)
    • Begin writing your branching narrative
  • Reflection on teamwork and next steps (5 – 10 min.)

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Write a narrative with your team!

  • Narrative:
    • Combine Japanese and Taiwanese folktales?
    • Create a story about your daily life?
    • Something more creative??? Fantasy, Drama, Detective story…?
  • Readers/Players (English learners)
    • 1st-year KSU/NTUE students?
    • High school students?
    • Elementary school kids?
  • Learning target (English language)
    • Vocabulary? (make a list!)
    • Grammar? (make a list!)
    • Other?

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Branching narrative��

  • Narrative = story
  • In a branching narrative, a single point leads to multiple outcomes. 

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Branching narrative

  • The reader makes choices that advance the story, leading to new choices.
  • Remember, KSU students will make it a game later.

2024-05-09

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The reader is “you”!

  • Write from the perspective of the reader.
  • For example,
    • You wake up in a dark room.
    • You see a road going left and a road going right.

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Plot

  • Plot = a series of events that form the narrative
  • The plot depends on player choices.
  • The plot must include problems for the player.
  • There must be at least 2 different endings. (Success? Death? Partial success?)

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Choices

What choices will you give your player?

  • actions
  • speaking

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MAKE BRANCHES

  • Create branches to the narrative
  • Each branch must be based on a choice for the player
  • Include at least
    • 2 endings
    • 12 story sections

2024-05-09

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What to do today

  1. Begin writing your branching narrative

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Reflection on teamwork

Think about your group discussion:

  1. What went well in your teamwork?
  2. What challenges did your team face, and how did you solve them?
  3. What do you still need to decide or finish?
  4. What did you learn from working with international teammates?

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Next steps

  • Homework: Keep working on your branching narrative
  • Next week: Finish writing your branching narrative and prepare to present it

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