Help Me, Help You: A Triple Track Approach to Maximizing Collaborative Learning in Complex, Cross-National Virtual Teams

Abstract

Reporting on a nine-year case study of collaborative learning in cross-national and cross-university virtual teams, this chapter calls for what it defines as a triple track approach to the opportunities and challenges of cross-cultural collaborative learning. Such an approach involves the concurrent focus on student, faculty, and administrative roles in developed and developing nations. The authors analyze alternative delivery modes, identify best practices, and highlight critical success factors including trust-building, cross-cultural communication, and collaborative learning champions. Finally, they examine trends such as increasing cross-sector collaboration outside of academe and suggest needed additional research.