Physical distance, but socially close

Climate change is considered one of the most pressing concerns of our time, and has already had a significant impact on human movement and life on earth. Young people have been a major source of momentum behind climate action in recent years. Through Virtual Exchange we wanted to offer the opportunity for young people to connect with each other on this theme. How do they experience and perceive climate change? And how do they feel about their role as young people? We collected some of the experiences from the Virtual Exchange ‘Cultural Encounters: The Big Climate Movement 2020’. 

With contributions from leading Virtual Exchange practitioners and developers, 'Designing and implementing virtual exchange – a collection of case studies' offers tangible examples of different VE models. This publication brings together case studies to illustrate various ways of implementation in formal and non-formal education, across a range of disciplines.

Based on our expertise in Virtual Exchange pedagogy Sharing Perspectives Foundation is organizing a workshop series on harnessing the opportunities of online education. In three sessions we will provide step-by-step techniques, practical tips and unique exercises modelling online interactivity and student engagement.

What the Virtual Exchange format introduces, is a continuous connection between the local and the global, online and offline, personal and common, or differences and similarities. The format does not introduce a radical disruption from or for traditional forms of education, but establishes new dimensions and connections to existing, formal education settings. 

Across a range of fields and disciplines, virtual learning and interaction are commonly seen as a ‘plan B,’ i.e. “if we can’t get everyone together, then we’ll begrudgingly adapt accordingly”. What this negative sentiment prevents is the ability to ask the more generative question: What is enabled by ‘going virtual’? 

Autumn semester has started for many learners. We are getting ready for the start of the Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange 'Cultural Encounters: The Big Climate Movement'.  Don't wait and apply today to join this online, interactive, international learning experience!

Accessible won’t always mean accessed. Learning needs to be social and experiential, and online learning requires grounded affiliations and incentives. Is there a place for virtual exchange in open online courses? We have found that there is.