Instructor Profile in Global Shared Learning Classroom: Development of Competencies and Skills

Abstract

The needs of Industry 4.0, and the globalization of workplaces, set new requirements for workers entering the job market, including the ability to function in intercultural environments and global societies. Therefore, higher education Institutions should promote global citizenship learning through Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) strategies, an innovative way to engage students in a global, multicultural, shared learning environment. One COIL option is the Global Shared Learning Classroom (GSLC) approach which has at least four weeks in which complex problems that transcend borders are analyzed and addressed. Instructors must be able to guide students to identify, discuss and solve these problems online and in a short time. This work explores several COIL experiences carried out during the last five years (including experiences during COVID-19 and post-pandemic) between Latin American and European universities. The study includes evaluating different training programs for instructors carried out to meet the appropriate profile of COIL leaders. In addition, rubrics are suggested to diagnose and assess transversal competencies such as intercultural communication, critical thinking, global citizenship, multicultural collaboration, adaptation to virtual work environments, and the use of technologies. The results show that GSLC instructors must possess solid knowledge of their specialization and be trained in specific global competencies and soft skills for COIL experiences to succeed.