Margarita Altuna
University of South Florida, United States
I am from Quito, Ecuador, and hold a B.A. in Social Communication and an M.A. in Spanish and Latin American Literature. I am currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Innovative Education at the University of South Florida. My academic interests include Spanish American and Ecuadorian literature, Latin American civilization, and the connections between literature, cinema, journalism, and global awareness. Since 2023, I have actively participated in academic conferences and in the Virtual Global Exchange (VGE) program at USF, as well as in COIL initiatives, where I have engaged in collaborative, interdisciplinary, and intercultural teaching and learning experiences with faculty and students from diverse contexts. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to international collaboration, global citizenship, and transformative learning. I am passionate about fostering cross-cultural dialogue and building educational bridges across institutions and countries.
“COIL has transformed my pedagogy by pushing me to reflect deeply on my teaching practice and continuously improve my courses each time I teach them. It has fostered meaningful international collaboration with colleagues abroad, enriching both my professional growth and my students’ learning. For me, COIL is about pedagogy as an evolving, reflective, and truly global practice.”
Project Information
Project Name: Conectando Fronteras / Bridging Borders
Partner: Martha Villalon, Universidad Marista de Merida (Mexico)
Project Length: Ongoing project, active for 8 consecutive semesters
Modality: Synchronous & Asynchronous
Technology Tools Utilized: Microsoft Teams (synchronous videoconferencing), Google Docs / Google Drive (collaborative work), Canvas (LMS), Padlet (collaborative boards), WhatsApp (informal communication), Email Google Slides / PowerPoint (shared presentations). Poll Everywhere (interactive polling tool)
UN Sustainable Development Goals: Quality Education; Reduced Inequalities; Partnerships for the Goals
Project Summary:
This COIL project connects Spanish and English language learners from different institutions through collaborative and intercultural learning experiences. It integrates synchronous and asynchronous activities that promote meaningful communication, interaction, and reflection across cultures. Through digital collaboration, students engage in shared tasks that support their language development while fostering learner agency and active participation. The project also creates a “third space” where students negotiate meaning, identities, and perspectives beyond their own cultural contexts. Using both languages in authentic communicative settings, students engage in meaning-making practices that enhance critical thinking, intercultural awareness, and global communication skills.
Learning Outcomes:
- Students improved their language proficiency in Spanish and English by engaging in structured synchronous and asynchronous interactions that developed their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in authentic communicative contexts.
- Students developed intercultural competence and critical thinking skills by collaborating with international peers to analyze current events, exchange perspectives, and reflect on cultural differences through guided discussions and video reflections.