CREATING A VIRTUAL STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE TO RUSSIA

Abstract

COVID-19 has drastically altered our world. Though travel is halted, global education does not have to stop. We used this time to reconceive the notion of study abroad and designed a study abroad program that could be facilitated virtually and enhanced with face-to-face classroom interaction. We were inspired to embark on this journey for several reasons. First, the realities of the pandemic create risks associated with international travel. Second, international experiences need to be more accessible–more students should be able to participate in global education, even if they do not have the means or ability to do so. We present our design considerations in building and implementing this virtual study abroad program. As part of the design, we partnered with VEXA (Virtual Experiences Abroad), a Moscow-based company that built the online interface and facilitated the interactions between our students and Russian citizens, including visits to a Russian Orthodox Church, the Bolshoi Ballet theater, and elementary and middle schools. We also brought elements of Russian culture to life through face-to-face experiences including a live cooking session with a Russian chef, discussions with a Russian Orthodox priest, and a ballet lesson with a company member of the Bolshoi theatre. These types of experiences facilitated group discussions and social interaction opportunities, crucial for establishing relationships. Overall, our main goal was to reconceive the traditional notion of study abroad while garnering results that would match the transformational gains that global education provides.