Designing Your COIL Course
Once your course and institutional partner are confirmed, it’s time to co-develop your COIL project. In this phase, you and your partner will shape the course structure, activities, and timeline: What content will you cover? What kind of student collaboration is appropriate? And how can the courses at both institutions be meaningfully aligned? The goal is to create a shared learning experience that adds both academic and intercultural value—while staying realistic and feasible for all participants.
In a nutshell
In this phase, the focus shifts to practical planning and collaborative course design. To support a successful COIL experience, you and your partner institution should consider the following areas:
Key Focus Areas:
- Learning Objectives:
Define what students should learn academically and interculturally. Consider how collaboration across institutions deepens understanding and skill development.
- Project Structure:
Plan a sequence of activities—such as group projects, case studies, and discussions—that support engagement. Balance synchronous and asynchronous work to accommodate different schedules and time zones.
- Digital Tools:
Choose platforms for communication, collaboration, and file sharing that are accessible, secure, and familiar to both institutions.
What Needs to Be Done?
Define Learning Objectives
- What knowledge, skills, or perspectives should students gain?
- How will cross-cultural collaboration enrich the learning process?
- Do your courses have shared goals, or can they complement each other?
Tip
Don’t be too ambitious—focus on a few key learning goals that realistically fit within the project timeframe and align with both courses.
Develop the Project Structure
- What types of activities will support learning (group work, case studies, discussions)?
- How many live (synchronous) and self-paced (asynchronous) sessions are manageable?
- How will the timeline account for both institutions’ calendars?
Tip
Make room for both large joint sessions and time for small-group collaboration—students need space to work closely together in international teams.
Select Digital Tools
- What platforms will you use for communication, collaboration, and content sharing?
- Does each institution have access to these tools (e.g., Teams)?
- Are data protection and accessibility requirements considered?
Tip
If you plan to use a new digital platform, give students a low-stakes introductory task beforehand so they can explore the tool without pressure.
Project Length
COIL is a highly flexible format that can be adapted to different teaching goals, course structures, and time constraints. Whether you’re looking for a short, focused activity to introduce students to international collaboration or planning a semester-long interdisciplinary project, COIL can be scaled to fit. The key is to design a structure that supports meaningful interaction—regardless of duration. Below are four examples of COIL formats with varying lengths and intensity to help you find the right fit for your course.
Short & Intensive COIL (2–3 weeks)
⮕ Ideal for: block seminars, compact modules, or as a COIL “taster”
Students from both institutions meet during 2–3 intensive weeks, working together on one shared challenge. The format includes a kick-off session, 1–2 live workshops, and a final presentation. Collaboration takes place primarily in small groups between sessions. This format works well for case studies or simulation-based tasks.
Moderate-Length COIL (5–6 weeks)
⮕ Ideal for: integration into existing lecture-based courses
This format combines weekly asynchronous tasks (e.g., shared readings, short reflections) with three live sessions: an introduction, a mid-point check-in, and a final presentation. Students collaborate on a small joint project (e.g., podcast, report, digital poster) that complements their course content.
Classic 8-Week COIL (with project-based learning)
⮕ Ideal for: ambitious, student-driven collaboration
The course begins with a virtual kick-off and icebreakers, followed by a mix of weekly group work and instructor-guided content. Students work in international teams to research and develop a solution to a real-world problem. Deliverables can include a concept presentation, peer feedback, and a final joint output (e.g., policy brief, prototype, or creative media).
Semester-Long COIL (10–12 weeks)
⮕ Ideal for: deeply integrated COIL projects for well-aligned courses
A full-semester COIL is ideal when both instructors fully align their syllabi. Weekly collaboration is embedded throughout the course. Students engage in ongoing group work, regular peer exchange, reflective writing, and deliver a final joint product that contributes to their course grade. This format allows for deeper intercultural exchange and more complex project development.
Digital Tools for Collaboration
Choosing the right digital tools is essential to facilitate smooth and inclusive collaboration between institutions. Below is an overview of commonly used platforms for different aspects of COIL, from live sessions to collaborative writing. When selecting tools, make sure they are accessible to all participants and compliant with institutional or GDPR requirements.
Any questions?
Do not hesitate to reach out to us: coil-projects@th-koeln.de!
