Insights from COIL courses in an Erasmus Plus Virtual Exchange Initiative
Dr. Stan Sofer (Gordon Academic College of Education)
IMPACT QUALITY ASSURANCE TEAM
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Courses Surveyed
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Purpose of feedback survey
A questionnaire was designed to provide insights regarding students experience and feedback of the COIL courses and provide recommendations for improvement of future courses.
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Student participants�Three hundred and eighty students participating in 11 COIL courses filled out the questionnaire�
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Methodology
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This survey included closed statements and open questions. The closed statements reflected the level of the participant’s satisfaction of the COIL course which was rated according to a Likert scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being very dissatisfied and 5 being very satisfied. The mean and standard deviation were computed for each statement.
There were four open questions:
Results of quantitative analysis
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Statement | Mean | Standard deviation |
"The level of English used in the class was clear and well understood" | 4.29 | 0.91 |
"I am satisfied with my overall experience in the COIL course." | 4.20 | 1.00 |
"The course learning materials were relevant and useful." | 4.13 | 1.02 |
"I would be willing to participate in another COIL program or project." | 4.13 | 1.13 |
"The learning experience facilitated effective communication with my instructors." | 3.97 | 1.07 |
"This COIL learning experience contributed / enriched the academic learning of the subject matter for my course." | 3.97 | 1.03 |
"The course provided me with a meaningful opportunity to develop virtual social relationships with students from other countries." | 3.91 | 1.20 |
"Before the course I had been exposed to and was aware of different cultures and international perspectives." | 3.80 | 1.15 |
"Participation in this course enriched my technological skills" | 3.68 | 1.21 |
Insights from quantitative analysis
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Major themes referenced from the open-ended questions�
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Theme | Relative Frequency | Percentage |
Intercultural Interaction and Collaboration | 283 | 26.9% |
Course organization and Scheduling | 222 | 21.1% |
Communication and English Language Skills | 164 | 15.6% |
Engagement and Overall Course Experience | 164 | 15.6% |
Academic and Professional Skill Development | 111 | 10.6% |
Technology and Online Learning Platforms | 108 | 10.3% |
Representative student quotes relating to common themes
International Interaction and Collaboration
“What I liked most was interacting with other students and professors from other countries and other careers, actively participating in meetings and learning a lot about research.”
“I really liked how the international students had the chance to exchange information and feedback with each other.”
Course organization and Scheduling
“All teachers uploaded their presentations after the workshops, which allowed us to review and rethink the material.”
“The assessment system wasn’t completely clear to me.”
Communication and English Language Skills
“I improved my confidence in speaking English with international students.”
“The discussions with foreign students helped me improve my communication skills.”
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More student quotes relating to common themes
Engagement and Overall Course Experience
“The course was interactive and kept us engaged throughout the sessions.”
“I learned many new things while also meeting amazing people.”
Academic and Professional Skill Development
“I gained new perspectives that will be useful for my future career.”
“The activities improved my critical thinking and communication abilities.”
“It was a valuable experience for both my studies and professional development.”
Technology and Online Learning Platforms
“The online platforms were easy to use and helped us collaborate effectively.”
“The breakout rooms were useful for discussions and teamwork.”
“Sometimes there were technical problems with the connection.”
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How can the COIL courses be improved?
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Major Category for Improvement | Description of Student Suggestions | Relative Frequency | Percentage |
Course Organization and Scheduling | Clearer communication regarding schedules, deadlines, exams, timing, and overall course structure. | 88 | 40.0% |
General Satisfaction / No Major Changes Needed | Responses indicating that the course was already good or required little improvement. | 48 | 21.8% |
Interaction and Student Engagement | Requests for more discussions, teamwork, interaction, and active participation during sessions. | 32 | 14.5% |
Technology and Technical Issues | Suggestions related to online platforms, internet connectivity, and smoother digital interaction. | 23 | 10.5% |
Practical and Collaborative Learning | Desire for more practical activities, projects, real-life applications, and collaborative assignments. | 20 | 9.1% |
Instructor Support and Facilitation | Requests for more instructor presence in breakout rooms and stronger facilitation during activities. | 9 | 4.1% |
Representative student quotes relating to COIL Course Improvement
Course Organization and Scheduling
“It would help to have clearer instructions and better organization of the assignments throughout the course.”
“More detailed explanations about deadlines and course requirements would improve the experience.”
General Satisfaction / No Major Changes Needed
“Honestly, I wouldn’t change anything. It was a very good experience.”
“The course was already very effective and engaging as it was.”
Interaction and Student Engagement
“I would like to have more group discussions and opportunities to interact with students from other countries.”
“There should be more teamwork activities and collaborative tasks during the sessions.”
“More active participation and interactive discussions would make the course even more engaging.”
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Representative student quotes relating to COIL Course Improvement
Technology and Technical Issues
“The online platforms worked well overall, but the digital interaction could be smoother during breakout activities.”
“It would help to improve the technical organization and reduce connection issues during meetings.”
Practical and Collaborative Learning
“More collaborative projects and hands-on assignments would improve the learning experience.”
“It would be interesting to include more activities where students can apply what they learned in practice.”
Instructor Support and Facilitation
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Key Principles for Implementing COIL Course Initiatives�
1. Clear Design & Structure
2. Interactive, Student-Centered Learning
3. Real-World Relevance
4. Strong Faculty Preparation & Coordination
Key Principles for Implementing COIL Course Initiatives�
5. Effective Facilitation
6. Technical & Logistical Readiness
7. Intercultural Collaboration & Community
8. Balance Scale with Quality