Florida Political Science Association Annual Meeting: USF-ULIM Presentation: “Creating a Global Classroom: Developing Collaborative International Research Projects in Undergraduate Courses”

On Saturday, March 26th, a group of 3 students traveled with me to the Florida Political Science Association annual conference 

We were joined (virtually) by students and faculty partners at ULIM.

In this presentation, we discussed the development and implementation of our virtual collaborative

 research project.  As you know, throughout the Spring 2022 semester, our students have been 

meeting in joint seminars and small group sessions, using technology and social networking tools 

to engage effectively.  The objective of the research project is to give the students the opportunity 

to work together on a comparative legal research project, comparing decisions of the European Court 

of Human Rights and the Supreme Court of the United States involving similar legal questions.  

This project is designed to develop students’ legal research and writing skills and to enhance students’ 

understanding of the ECtHR in comparison to the SCOTUS.  By learning more about legal issues in 

the EU and the workings of the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights, 

students are expected to learn more about Europe and to better understand the Supreme Court of the

 U.S. and its role in American constitutional democracy. Ultimately, students will present their research

 posters at international videoconference(s). 

At the conference, we discussed how the creation of this “global classroom” provides a way to

 internationalize the curriculum and for the students to develop relationships with classmates 

overseas without leaving their home campuses.  The extent to which students develop global citizenship 

competencies, such as improved intercultural communication skills and an appreciation of diversity, 

was explored. The impact of incorporating the global engagement project in the curriculum was

 evaluated by analyzing anonymous student surveys, a qualitative review of the students’ written

assignments, and observations of the students during the videoconferences.

 

[insert student presentation remarks here]

 

 

The conference was hosted by Bethune-Cookman University, over in Daytona. 

I left my house at 4:00 am -- to go and get the van -- and meet students in the USF St Pete parking 

garage at 5:15 am for the drive across the Florida peninsula. We presented in the morning - and then

stayed for the luncheon FPSA business meeting as well as for the afternoon panels. We made a quick 

stop at the Daytona Beach to see the Atlantic Ocean before heading back to USF. We made a quick 

dinner stop in historic Sanford at a soul food restaurant. I got back home after 1:00 am -- so -- it was a 

long day!

 

 

5:15 am and ready to pull out og the USF St Pete parking garage

 

arriving at Bethune-Cookman University

 

  

 

 

 

 

 I can't wait to see the Mary McLeod Bethune sculpture at the US Capitol rotunda!

 

 

Love this slogan -- Enter to Learn; Depart to Serve

The FPSA Business Meeting/Luncheon was held in the Bethune-Cookman Center for Civic Engagement

 

USF - ULIM: Second Joint Class Meeting: Mid-Point Check-In

During the latter portion our first joint seminar, students were split into their research groups (there are 3 USF and 2 ULIM students in each of the 7 research groups). Since then, the students have been working in their groups.

On March 23rd we had a second joint seminar to give the students an opportunity to update us on their progress and to ask any questions.  It was also nice for the groups to be able to discuss their research topics with the rest of the class.

We conducted this class meeting virtually -- using the Blackboard Collaborate platform.  (When we were all with laptops in our classroom - which allowed for cameras and microphones for each student - there was feedback.We tried to overcome this by muting, etc - but we decided there would be fewer tech issues if all of us - the Moldovans and the USF students - joined from separate locations on our laptops for this second joint meeting)

USF St Pete - ULIM Research Cooperation: First Joint Meeting!

Our first joint meeting was to take place on February 23rd, but we pushed it back one week due to the USF students' mid-term exam (and exam review).

The next day (February 24th), Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine. 

For our research partners in Moldova, missile strikes can be heard in the distance. More than 230,000 refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine have crossed Moldova's borders.  Russian strikes against nuclear plants instill fear of nuclear contamination that will spread to Moldova (and throughout Europe).  The scope of the horror is too great to capture here in this post.

As I type this update, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Moldova meeting with President Maia Sandu. (See https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-and-moldovan-president-maia-sandu-at-a-joint-press-availability/)

But I mention this now, as our cooperation with students and faculty at ULIM in Chisinau is taking place in an entirely different context than the one we envisioned when our planning began last year.

We at USF very much hope that our work on this project can provide students at ULIM with some sense of normalcy -- and that we can be a source of support and solidarity during these tremendously challenging times. 

We may need to adjust our expectations in light of changing conditions, but, for now, we are full speed ahead on our research partnership and collaboration.

The students have been broken into 7 research groups (see blog post about research groups) that each have 3 USF and 2 ULIM students working together.

On March 2nd, we all met together in a joint class meeting for the first time.  

Students were welcomed by Vice Rector for International Cooperation VALENTINA CIUMACENCO, Director of ULIM's Library LARISA PATLIS, and Law Professor ELENA MARGINEANU.  

Professor McLauchlan provided an overview of the assignment, and then we broke into the 7 groups.  

All students joined in the Blackboard Collaborate platform (even those who were in the USF classroom), so that each student could have a camera and microphone. 

We had a few tech issues -- but -- eventually-- all of the students were able to meet their partners and get the project officially underway. 

Next up: Research Proposals and Preliminary Bibliographies due before Spring Break.

Dr. McLauchlan and Vice Rector Ciumacenco

The view of our class from a USF student's laptop

Vice Rector Ciumacenco

 

Professor Elena Margineanu

 

Vice Rector Ciumacenco's Opening Remarks

Vice Rector Ciumacenco

Group 3: Freedom of Expression

Group 1: Prohibition of Torture