How FRCC is building global connections through Collaborative Online International Learning.
November 17-21 is International Education Week—a reminder of how essential global learning has become in preparing students for today’s interconnected world.
At Front Range Community College, one of the ways students gain international experience is through COIL: Collaborative Online International Learning.
This innovative model connects FRCC classes with students and faculty in other countries to complete shared projects and build global relationships without the cost or barriers of travel.
One of FRCC’s COIL partnerships is our phlebotomy program’s collaboration with the Laboratory Sciences Program at San Pedro College (SPC) in the Philippines.
What Is COIL?
Also known as Virtual Exchange (VE), COIL was pioneered at the State University of New York (SUNY) in the early 2000s. As SUNY describes it, COIL:
“Enhances intercultural student team-focused interaction through proven approaches to meaningful online and virtual engagement, while providing universities with a cost-effective way to ensure that their students are globally engaged.”
Under the COIL model, instructors from colleges in two different countries co-design projects that span four to 12 weeks. Sometimes both courses share the same discipline; sometimes they’re interdisciplinary. The key is that students in both locations collaborate directly in real time to meet the learning goals of each class.
How FRCC’s Phlebotomy COIL Partnership Works
Phlebotomy COIL faculty members Spring Semidei and Tera Miller share what the experience looks like for students.
The semester begins with a virtual kickoff celebration:
“All of the FRCC and SPC students meet for that kickoff… we do icebreakers, and our students get separated into teams… Then we review as a big group what the project is going to be that semester,” says Tera.
From there, the international teams also communicate through video calls and WhatsApp, where they collaborate on projects, often educational pamphlets on topics related to medical laboratory science.
At the end of the collaboration, the teams meet virtually to share their projects and celebrate.
A Student Perspective
“The relationships, skills and perspective you gain are truly worth it,” says Camille Albo, an FRCC student who participated in the phlebotomy COIL project, reflecting on its long-term impact.
“At the time, I didn’t fully realize how meaningful the experience would be,” she says. “I still think back on COIL with a lot of appreciation.”
She especially valued the live, person-to-person collaboration.
“Because we were talking live, they were able to show us their equipment, the machines they use and the techniques they practice right in the moment. It made the whole experience feel a lot more personable.”
A Modern-Day Pen Pal
Though COIL adds some extra work, the professors say the results speak for themselves:
“We have students from our first collaboration that are still talking with their teammates over In San Pedro. It’s like having a pen pal in the modern age,” says Spring.
Why COIL Matters: Student Benefits That Last Beyond the Class
The FRCC faculty members highlight several meaningful outcomes they see consistently:
“The biggest benefit is just the friendships that they build,” says Tera. “Also, the collaboration—and learning that we may do it one way, but another country does it another way. It generates a lot of conversation and makes us think outside of the box.”
Students also gain experience that directly supports their future careers.
“It looks great on our students’ resumes when they have international learning experiences,” she adds.
Ripple Effects
Beyond building relationships, this partnership has produced impressive institutional outcomes. San Pedro College recently achieved a level three accreditation because of the COIL collaboration with FRCC.
And at Front Range, the project has helped shape a larger vision for the future. The college has secured a three-year contract with the Colorado State Board of Education to continue COIL projects and is exploring the development of a Medical Technician associate degree program students can complete after finishing a phlebotomy certificate.
Meanwhile, San Pedro College is adopting FRCC’s phlebotomy curriculum entirely.
“They are taking our entire program, and then they’re going to be implementing it over in the Philippines. They’ve already adopted our competencies,” Spring says.
How Culture Influences Health Care
The project also expanded Camille’s understanding of global health care:
“Their approach to phlebotomy and patient care helped me understand how much culture influences the way health care is taught and practiced,” she adds.
She shared genuine appreciation for FRCC’s faculty.
“I also want to emphasize how strong the phlebotomy program at FRCC is,” Camille says. “COIL encouraged me to build professional connections. I learned so much, not just about phlebotomy, but about culture, collaboration and working with people in a real-world environment.”
And her message for future students?
“Go in with an open mind and take advantage of every moment. The relationships, skills and perspective you gain are truly worth it,” she says.
COIL Across FRCC: A Growing Network of Global Classrooms
Today, FRCC has many COIL partnerships across multiple disciplines, including:
- Biology collaborations with Ecuador and Ukraine
- Geoscience exchanges with Mexico
- Multimedia Graphics Design (MGD) partnerships with UNAM and Hong Kong Baptist University
- Journalism collaborations with Hong Kong
- Economics, art and additional MGD projects
Why International Education Week Matters at FRCC
COIL gives students something that goes far beyond a typical class experience: a chance to step into another world and learn from peers across the globe.
