Research in Virtual Exchange

Overview

<p>We invite individual researchers, research teams, and research institutions to submit proposals to develop and implement a research project that will address one of the Initiative’s research priorities. These priorities, listed below, focus on areas in the field of virtual exchange that are current challenges or have not been sufficiently examined. Building on the successes of our previous sponsored research projects, the Initiative plans to work with a limited number of researchers/research teams to support research projects through the design, data collection, analysis, writing, and publication phases. Researchers can propose to work with existing data sets or propose projects that include new data collections. Projects that can plausibly identify the effects of virtual exchange programs along the priorities listed below will be preferred over descriptive or correlational studies. Also, the Initiative is interested in projects that produce resources for virtual exchange practitioners based on the findings in their investigations. These might include toolkits, handbooks, guides, etc. and should be detailed and planned for in the proposal.</p> <p><strong>Stevens Initiative Research Priorities</strong></p> <p>The following are descriptions of the Initiative’s research priorities along with some sample questions. Proposals should limit their investigation to these topics, though the sample questions are only intended to give context and are not required to be included as written in the proposed projects.</p> <p><strong>Virtual exchange at the K-12 level:</strong> This priority indicates the importance of learning more about the effects of virtual exchange participation for young people at this age/education level.</p> <p><em>Sample questions:</em> What are barriers to virtual exchange program adoption at the K-12 level? What are promising virtual exchange models at the K-12 level, specifically in demonstrating outcomes? How do virtual exchange programs meet district priorities like social and emotional learning and other content areas?</p> <p><strong>Effect of virtual exchange on student outcomes and success</strong>: This priority will explore the effect of virtual exchange on student outcomes and success.</p> <p><em>Sample Questions:</em> What is the effect of virtual exchange on student attendance, graduation rate, GPA or other measure, higher education enrollment, and/or employment? What are the similarities or differences in students who participate in High Impact Practices and those that participate in virtual exchange programs? What long-term impact of virtual exchange can be identified, including the effect of virtual exchange on professional preparation or workforce skills?</p> <p><strong>Effective scaling of programs:</strong> This priority will explore the conditions or actions that are necessary for institutions to scale existing virtual exchanges as a part of their international learning offerings, particularly at the K-12 level.</p> <p><em>Sample questions</em>: What conditions – including policies, funding, information, etc.– are conducive to helping virtual exchange programs scale significantly? For virtual exchange programs that have scaled, what were specific actions that helped scale adoption within the institution?</p> <p><strong>Reaching new audiences:</strong> This priority will explore the value proposition and utility of virtual exchange for young people who traditionally don’t have access to international education or global learning opportunities.</p> <p><em>Sample questions:</em> What competencies or skills are improved for young people at rural or under-resourced institutions through a virtual exchange program and how do those outcomes compare with outcomes for more urban, suburban, or well-resourced students?</p> <p><strong>Coronavirus pandemic’s effect on virtual exchange:</strong> This priority will explore the continued effect of the coronavirus pandemic on how virtual exchange programs are perceived and experienced by young people or implemented by institutions and organizations.</p> <p><em>Sample questions:</em> What were the specific challenges, responses, and lessons learned by virtual exchange implementers since the advent of widespread impact of the pandemic? How have programs adapted to pandemic restrictions and conditions? Have students' perceptions of virtual exchange changed?</p>