A coil-enhanced course on international perspectives of climate change

Abstract

Climate change is a complex and multifaceted issue. It is one that must concern all people and takes the work of the entire globalized world to eradicate. Consequently, a globally connected solution is paramount to sustainability. This chapter considers the potential and significance of embedding intercultural experiences and globally networked learning into courses on climate change and sustainability. In particular, the State University of New York’s (SUNY) Center for Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) has developed a pedagogical approach aimed at fostering multicultural learning across various areas of study. Drawing from our experiences participating in the COIL Center’s professional development programs and through the implementation of a COIL-enhanced course, several suggestions for infusing COIL-like models into courses on climate change and sustainability are offered. To begin, a brief review of the existing literature on distance education is provided. Then, a brief background of the SUNY COIL System is presented. This is followed by a case study analysis of the COIL-enhanced course, International Perspectives on Climate Change. Finally, some reflections about the COIL experience at the University of Sonora are offered, including successes, challenges, and suggestions for fostering climate change literacy and sustainable learning.