GLOBALIZATION THROUGH VIRTUALLY-BASED TEACHING IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION AREA

Globalization, probably the most frequently used term of the moment, is a huge umbrella under which national differences melt for a while in order to create a larger, more generous pattern. Within this pattern, people from all over the world find a common language that makes them able to better inter-connect. Towards this goal, virtual courses have a great impact. As global virtual faculty and local professor respectively at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, USA, we had the opportunity to discover the advantages of such a formula for both students and professors. Each professor of the university is entitled to choose a virtual teaching partner, from any part of the world. This one is supposed to participate in the course during the whole semester, sharing his opinions with the students and his fellow professor via a Discussion Board. The exchange of ideas can sometimes create a real brainstorm, each participant asking and answering as in a live dialogue. It is interesting to follow the students’ reasoning, especially in core courses, such as the Global Challenge, that deals with topics of most general concern, among which the scientific method, global warming, moral issues, conflicts around the world.