This interdisciplinary honors seminar, co-taught by faculty from Rutgers University and the American University in Egypt, delves into emerging instructional practices and the global digital divide, focusing on how the uneven distribution of information and communication technologies impacts education.
Through cross-cultural collaboration, students will analyze case studies and research from Egypt and the U.S., understanding the global disparities in access to educational tools. Participants will explore how these inequities affect learners and what can be done to bridge the gap through technology-enhanced solutions.
Active and collaborative participation is central to the course. Students will engage in practical activities such as completing readings, watching lecture videos, participating in virtual discussions, and working on technology-driven mini-projects. These projects will not only encourage students to design innovative and equitable approaches to integrating digital tools into education but also prepare them for real-world scenarios, fostering communication, content presentation, and collaboration.
In alignment with the COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) model, students will engage in two to three synchronous whole-class meetings throughout the course. To accommodate the time difference between Egypt and the U.S., these sessions will be scheduled at mutually convenient times.
In addition to these sessions, students will participate in cooperative group projects requiring synchronous and asynchronous collaboration outside of scheduled class time. Meeting times will be coordinated considering the time difference and ensuring effective communication and collaboration. These projects will allow students from Egypt and the U.S. to work together in real-time, promoting meaningful cross-cultural engagement and strengthening their ability to collaborate across distances.
By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge to address educational equity issues, ensuring that all learners, regardless of location or socio-economic status, have the opportunity to benefit from AI and digital technologies. Instructors, based in both Egypt and the U.S., will primarily act as facilitators, guiding students to take charge of their learning through global teamwork. The COIL model amplifies the course's impact by allowing students to collaborate in real-time, despite geographical and cultural distances, utilizing technology to overcome barriers and deepen learning.