A proposal in STEM for virtual exchange held by Computer Science and Applied and Computational Mathematics programs

Abstract

In this practice report, we present a practical experience of a virtual exchange carried out by a Belgian and a Brazilian professor from two research intensive universities in Northwestern Europe and in Latin America, respectively. Particularly, this paper is focused on how we designed a common syllabus in a specific topic of STEM, aiming to explore math and computer science skills of the students, and how we implemented this virtual exchange step by step, despite the students being from different courses and different levels of degree. In addition, we discuss the pros and cons of the process from the instructors’ perspective as well as under students’ views, and provide some suggestions to be applied and tested for future virtual exchanges in this field. Overall, this practice report reinforces our deep reflection about the results and desire to share our STEM syllabus to encourage other colleagues to apply it (or modify it) for different courses.

Keywords

• computer science
• applied and computational mathematics
• stem education
• cross-cultural collaboration
• interdisciplinary teaching