Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website
Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website
This past spring, three professors from St. John's University engaged in a Global Online Learning Exchange (GOLE) with Dnipro State University in Ukraine. The initiative involved Jordan González, Ph.D., Olivia G. Stewart, Ph.D., and Ekaterina Midgette, Ph.D., all of whom are faculty members in the Education Specialties department.
The program included Dr. González’s course on Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Dr. Stewart’s literacy course on Digital Literacies and Learning, and several courses at Dnipro State University focused on Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Professors from both universities collaborated extensively to design and implement the seven-week exchange.
The goal was to foster a cross-cultural learning environment where students could critically engage with multimodal texts and explore power structures along with political and cultural implications. Students worked asynchronously in groups using digital tools like Flip for video introductions, MyStorybook.com for picture books, Canva for infographics, and Google Slides for voice-over presentations.
A significant aspect of this collaboration was its context within the Russia-Ukraine war. Ukrainian students faced challenges such as losing Wi-Fi access due to bombings by Russia. This situation allowed St. John’s students to offer support and prayers while gaining insights into the experiences of their Ukrainian peers.
The experience led to profound learning outcomes as students gained an appreciation for the complexities of power, culture, and voice in multimodal texts. They practiced intercultural communication and adaptability through group projects and reflective responses.
One student noted, “This experience opened my eyes to the challenges and resilience of people living in conflict zones.” Another remarked on the value of collaborating with Ukrainian students: “It reminded me of the importance of empathy and understanding in our interconnected world.”
The virtual exchange provided a unique opportunity for multicultural engagement despite mobility restrictions imposed by the war. A student from Dnipro State University highlighted that it allowed her to collaborate with American peers—a chance otherwise inaccessible.
For St. John’s professors, this reaffirmed global learning's transformative potential. Several publications have emerged from this exchange, some co-authored with Dnipro State University professors.
GOLE expanded classroom reach beyond traditional study abroad models by offering transformational experiences through global online learning—an example of breaking down barriers while fostering understanding among students worldwide.
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