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University of Florida

Virtual Exchange Training

The Fall 2026 Virtual Exchange Training application is now open.

This training program helps faculty design and incorporate virtual international content and communication activities into existing courses. Through virtual exchange, faculty can connect their UF classes with students and faculty abroad to collaborate on assignments, acquire global perspectives on a given discipline, and develop international collaborative skills.

If you would like to learn more about the Virtual Exchange Training, please register for one of our upcoming information sessions, all of which will be held via Zoom:

Virtual Exchange Training Details

Please see the table below for more information on what will be covered in the training. View the Fall 2026 VE Training Syllabus.

Training Content

Module 1
Introduction to Virtual Exchange
  • Types of virtual exchanges.
  • Common challenges implementing virtual exchanges
  • Using Zoom to attend and participate in an online synchronous session

Module 2
Navigating Intercultural Collaborations
  • Scheduling synchronous sessions while accounting for time zones
  • Creating strategies to encourage students to examine and develop their international collaborative skills
  • Identify resources to find a VE partner and traits that make two partners compatible

Module 3
Designing a Virtual Exchange: Task Design
  • Develop a Virtual Exchange outline using course design principles
  • Applying telecollaborative task design theory to virtual exchange using the typology of 12 different types of tasks and task sequences identified by O’Dowd and Waire.
  • Recognizing the elements of measurable student learning objectives

Module 4
Utilizing Technology Effectively
  • List of tools to enhance virtual exchange
  • Analyzing technological needs
  • Self-assessing readiness to use new technology

Module 5
Implementing VE at UF:  Final Projects
  • Developing a virtual exchange lesson plan
  • Presenting a virtual exchange project targeting a specific audience (e.g. students, potential partners, colleagues, administrators).  
  • Identifying  procedures and requirements for implementing virtual exchange at the University of Florida.
  • Identifying resources and services at UF that will assist in the development of virtual exchanges.

 

Eligibility

 

  • Faculty and staff with educational responsibilities

Mode

 

  • Online training with some synchronous sessions. Training takes 1.5 hours per week of independent work plus 1.5 hours of synchronous online interaction with facilitators, other course participants, and/or international partners. 

Deliverable

 

  • Proposal for a virtual exchange module to be implemented within 2 semesters

Award

 

  • All participants will receive a digital badge upon completion of the program. UF Faculty will receive $500 in professional development funds pending budgetary approval. This training counts for 500 miles toward the Global Teaching and Learning Certificate. 

Duration

 

  • 15-hour online training, taking place over six weeks

Important Dates

 

  • Application Deadline: April 25, 2026
  • Course Orientation: September 8-11, 2026
  • Program Dates: September 14 - October 23, 2026

Requirements

 

Questions

 

Office of Global Learning, Carrie Martins – cmartins@ufic.ufl.edu