Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College 1 E-learning a way of teaching and learning social work in a changing Europe? Presentation of the VIRCLASS

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College

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E-learning a way of teaching and learning social work in a changing Europe?

Presentation of the VIRCLASS projectMadrid 20.September 2006


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Changes in Higher Education all over Europe

Bologna DeclarationLisbon Agenda Information and Communication Technologies

in EducationNew knowledge of Learning (Socio-cultural

learning theories)


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More Challenges

This co-incidence with changes in workforce:

Life-Long Learning Vocational Education and Training Trans-European work market

All this together: great demands for optimal flexibility in all learning arenas!


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Bologna Declaration: Goals

3 +2 Bachelor & Master Programmes Common system for marks

graded A-F Introduction of European Credit Transfer

System (ECTS) Student (and teachers mobility over

national boarders)


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Lisboan Convention

Learning Economy a central agent for change in Europe influencing both the HEI and the Work Life

Training in Europe Focusing at Life Long Learning (LLL) -and Open Distance Learning (ODL)


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VIRCLASS a result of international co operation

The Virtual Classroom for social work in Europe is one of several project that was developed due to the start of EUSW-TN in 2002 in Parma, Italy


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The idea started….

Could e-learning courses be a forrunner for Summer School in Parma?

Would it be possible to offer students an additional option of study by starting

e-learning courses?


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At first there was a plan for summer school in Parma The Virclass project was established i 2003 Applications for grants from the Norway

Opening University was approved in 2004 Bergen University College have contributet

to the funding of the project Other international institutions have

contributed with labour force and time for development.


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The Working group for ”school development” became the VIRCLASS group


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Objectives for the Virclass project To develop e-learning courses in social work with a

comparative perspective With an international group of students An international group of teachers Based on a common curriculum plan To be implemented as part of the curriculum plan in

BA or MA- programmes in social work studies in Europe

To be of interests for professional social workers who want an international perspective on social work


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The inovative aspect

International co operation before VIRCLASS: Student exchange Teacher exchange Intensive Courses Nettwork meetings

International co operation after VIRCLASS A Virtual Classroom for Social Work in Europe Increase of digital competence both by teachers and

students Develop skills in e-learning pedagogy And the running of e-learning courses by the use of LMS

(learning management systems)


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Project elements

Administration and co ordination Curriculum development by co operation Developing a Virtual Campus for courses in social work with a

European comparative perspective Development of new digital learning materials – the Virtual Book for

Social Work in Europe Research on learning in e-learning Dissemination of results Develop a model for administration and finance for international e-

learning courses Develop a model for didactical approaches to international e-

learning courses


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The educational programme

The educational programme for 2006/07 consists of 2 modules.

Module 1: Social Work in Europe (5 ECTS credits) An introduction to comparative social

work on a European level

Module 2: Comparative social work (10 ECTS credits) Discrimination, Opression, Ethnic diversity Powerty and Welfare systems Social work theories, methods, skill training in Context


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The overall concept of learning

Constructivist and socio-cultural knowledge and understanding

Task-oriented and problem-solving methods Learner-centred curriculum – students are

activated, responsible for their own learning Competence based curriculum plan Academic and evidence based writing Self-reflection on learning


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Theoretical perspectives

Anti-Opressive and antidiscriminatory practice

Critical theory Social constructivism


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Assignments, grades and certificates Every module ends with a written individual

assignment Graded by the scale A-F Earning ECTS credits Assessors from different countries

2 assessors for each assignment Certificate signed by Bergen University

College


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Target groups

Students:BA/Diplom; (MA) professional social workers

PartnersUniversities and University colleges with

educational programmes for social work in Europe


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The students in 2005

120 students from 20 countries applied

Age: 19-50 years Majority under 25 years

of age

Students came from:Great Britain, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Macedonia, Turkey, Finland, Iceland, Slovenia and Austria.


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Educational background for students in the different modulesModule BA/DIPL MA/PHD Social

WorkersNumber of students

Module 1

elearning53% 40% 15%* 32 stud.

(100%)

Module 2

elearning32% 52% 20% 25stud.

Module 3 67% 17% 16% 34stud.


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Can social work be learned sitting by a computer chatting with other students?

Some scepticism arouse This is only suitable for students with good

computer skills and with good access to computers.

The east-European students might have problems by joining this.


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What happened?

99 % of the students had never been e-learning students before

They had average computerskills A lot of East- European students applied for the courses Many students had limited access to computers / did not

have computer at home, but had to use the computers at the Universities

The tutorials for helping students to get familiar with the Virtual Classroom was functioning very well

Students were satisfied with the support from teachers


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One of the students summerized her experience this way..

“……I will describe this E-learning process as very precious to me. My colleagues from Lithuania and Sweden brought their system of studying and the profession of social worker in their countries closer to me. But the most important thing is that now, I am more interested in social work than ever. My mind was functioning in a different way these past 7 weeks. I learned the importance of the research work and I felt that everyday I wanted to learn more by going deeper and deeper into the research. I honestly expected to find many more differences between these three countries, but I saw that many of the differences have been overcome in the past ten years. Now, I am sure that our country is successfully handling the changes, trends and demands for better education and professionalisation for social workers.”


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Communication in an international classroom The e-learning students co operated from

day one with students and teachers from other part of Europe by the use of internet and by being in the same virtual classroom.


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It:s learning – a LMS systemLearning Management System Offers a platform for

learning Bulletin board Tutorials Elements for learning

Tasks/assignments Pictures Video Respons to assignments Discusion area Presentation and delivery of

final assignments Portfolio exam


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How to use video triggers as part of the educational programme Questions to students: What is your

interpretation of the situation to this woman?

What kind of intervention(s) would you suggest?

Where will she go for help in your country?

What will be the role of the social worker?

http://pingvin.hib.no/virclass_video/case_liz_1.html


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Welfare Systems

Using pictures as triggers for discussions


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What we experienced

Knowledge about studentsKnowledge about administrative arrangements

and rules in different countriesKnowledge about common assessmentsKnowledge about social work in EuropeKnowledge about what a virtual campus can

offerKnowledge about the workloadAnd a lot more…..


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In the project plan for 2006/07

Development of a new administrative and financial model for running international e-learning courses

Adjustments of the curriculum plan and modules VIRCLASS will develop and run e-learning courses

Development of a didactical model and a Virtual Book for social work in Europe

Forward the work for incorporation of VIRCLASS courses in the curriculum plans for social work studies in Europe

Increase the flexibility for students By creating reusable learning material make it possible to use

different LMS systems for running the courses Research on aspects of learning in an international e-learning

campus


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Web-addresses

http://www.virclass.net

http://www.eusw.unipr.it


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VIRCLASS partners

Parma Universitet,Italia New Partners from 2005 Høgskolen i Jønkøping,Sverige Institutt Miguel Torga, Portugal INHOLLAND universitet, Haarlem, Nederland Complutense University, Madrid, Spania Universitetet i Warmia og Mazury, Polen Universitetet i Wales,Swansea Høgskolen i Bodø Universitetet Vytautas Magnus, Litauen Fachhochschule Vorarlberg, Østerrike Fachhochschule Mannheim, Tyskland City of Bergen Bergen University College (HiB) Media Centre (HiB)


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Presentation by

Assistant professor

Anne Karin Larsen

Bergen University College

Haugeveien 28, 5005 Bergen, Norway

[email protected]

phone:+47 55 587821

Documents

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College 1 E-learning a way of teaching and learning social work in a changing Europe? Presentation of the VIRCLASS