Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College 1 ODL as instrument for teaching and learning social...

Anne Karin Larsen Anne Karin Larsen Bergen Bergen University CollegeUniversity College

11

ODL as instrument for ODL as instrument for teaching and learning social teaching and learning social work in a changing Europework in a changing Europe

Presentation of the VIRCLASS Presentation of the VIRCLASS projectproject

Cosenza 26.November 2005Cosenza 26.November 2005

22 Anne Karin Larsen Anne Karin Larsen Bergen Bergen University CollegeUniversity College

EUSW-TN is a project for EUSW-TN is a project for internasjonal project developmentinternasjonal project developmentEuropean Social Work European Social Work Thematic network,Thematic network,

Commonalities and Commonalities and DifferencesDifferences

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


The idea started….The idea started….

The idea about starting an international The idea about starting an international classroom for social work by the use of e-classroom for social work by the use of e-learning arouse from the beginning of learning arouse from the beginning of EUSW-TNEUSW-TN

Would it be possible to offer students an Would it be possible to offer students an additional option of study by starting e-additional option of study by starting e-learning courses?learning courses?


At first there was a plan for summer At first there was a plan for summer school in Parmaschool in Parma

EUSW-TN 2002EUSW-TN 2002Plans for developing a summer Plans for developing a summer school in 2005school in 2005An internasjonal working group An internasjonal working group was establishedwas establishedThen the idea about preparing Then the idea about preparing an e-learning based study an e-learning based study before the summer school before the summer school came upcame up

The Virclass project was The Virclass project was established i 2003established i 2003Applications for grants from Applications for grants from the Norwegian Opening the Norwegian Opening University was approvedUniversity was approvedBergen University College Bergen University College have been an important have been an important partner in the funding of the partner in the funding of the projectprojectOther international institutions Other international institutions have supported with labour have supported with labour force and time for force and time for development.development.


The Working group for school The Working group for school developmentdevelopment


Our Objectives for the Virclass Our Objectives for the Virclass projectproject

To develop e-learning courses in social work in a To develop e-learning courses in social work in a comparative perspective for an international comparative perspective for an international group of students withgroup of students withAn international group of teachersAn international group of teachersWith a common curriculum planWith a common curriculum planTo be implemented as part of the curriculum To be implemented as part of the curriculum plan in BA or MA- programmes in social work plan in BA or MA- programmes in social work To be of interests for professional social workers To be of interests for professional social workers who want an international perspective on social who want an international perspective on social workwork


An intention of creating something new in An intention of creating something new in our international co operation with partners our international co operation with partners

in Europein EuropeInternasional co operation till now:Internasional co operation till now: Student exchangeStudent exchange Teacher exchangeTeacher exchange Intensive CoursesIntensive Courses Nettwork meetingsNettwork meetings

Create a Virtual Classroom for Social Work in Create a Virtual Classroom for Social Work in EuropeEuropeLearn how to use the LMS-system in teaching Learn how to use the LMS-system in teaching and educationand educationTo develop skills in e-learning pedagogyTo develop skills in e-learning pedagogy


Project elementsProject elements

Curriculum co operationCurriculum co operation

Administration and co ordinationAdministration and co ordination

Developing a Virtual Campus for learning Developing a Virtual Campus for learning social work in a European perspective social work in a European perspective

Running an international educational e-Running an international educational e-learning programme in comparative social learning programme in comparative social workwork


The educational programmeThe educational programme

The educational programme consisted of 3 The educational programme consisted of 3 modules.modules.

2 e-learning modules and 2 self-study 2 e-learning modules and 2 self-study modules with more or less the same modules with more or less the same curriculum plancurriculum plan

But with different options for co operationBut with different options for co operation

among students and teachersamong students and teachers


The overall concept of learningThe overall concept of learning

Constructivist and socio-cultural knowledge and Constructivist and socio-cultural knowledge and understandingunderstanding

Task-oriented and problem-solving methodsTask-oriented and problem-solving methods

Learner-centred curriculum – students are Learner-centred curriculum – students are activated, responsible for their own learningactivated, responsible for their own learning

Academic and evidence based writingAcademic and evidence based writing

Self-reflection on learningSelf-reflection on learning


Three modulesThree modulesWith different runWith different run

e-learninge-learning selfstudyselfstudy

Modul 1: Social Work in EuropeModul 1: Social Work in Europe Commonalities and DifferencesCommonalities and Differences

Modul 2: Comparative Social Modul 2: Comparative Social WorkWork

A European perspective on core A European perspective on core issues of Social workissues of Social work

Modul 3: Social Work as subject Modul 3: Social Work as subject and profession in Europeand profession in Europe


Module 2 og 3: 5 themes and Module 2 og 3: 5 themes and options for choiceoptions for choice

Main theme 1: Main theme 1: Antioppressive social work with focus on:Antioppressive social work with focus on:1a: Discrimination and oppression as phenomenon 1a: Discrimination and oppression as phenomenon

in Europein Europe1b: Poverty as phenomenon in Europe1b: Poverty as phenomenon in Europe1c: Ethnic diversity as phenomenon in EU1c: Ethnic diversity as phenomenon in EU2: Welfare systems2: Welfare systems3: Social Work Education, skill training and 3: Social Work Education, skill training and

professional competensesprofessional competenses


Number of ECTS creditsNumber of ECTS credits

Students earn from 5 - 20 ECTS creditsdepending of what modules they participate in

Module 15 credits

Module 210 credits

Module 3 5 -10 credits


Assignments, grades and Assignments, grades and certificatescertificates

Every module ends with a written Every module ends with a written individual assignmentindividual assignmentGraded by the scale A-FGraded by the scale A-FEarning ECTS creditsEarning ECTS creditsAssessors from different countries Assessors from different countries 2 assessors for each assignment2 assessors for each assignment

Certificate signed by University of Parma Certificate signed by University of Parma and Bergen University Collegeand Bergen University College


Target groupsTarget groups

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

workersworkers

PartnersPartners Universities and University colleges with Universities and University colleges with

educational programmes for social work in educational programmes for social work in EuropeEurope


The studentsThe students

120 students from 20 120 students from 20 countries appliedcountries appliedAgeAge: 19-50 years: 19-50 yearsMajority under 25 years Majority under 25 years of ageof age

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


Educational background for Educational background for students in the different modulesstudents in the different modules

ModuleModule BA/DIPLBA/DIPL MA/PHDMA/PHD Social Social WorkersWorkers

Number of Number of studentsstudents

Module 1Module 1

elearningelearning53%53% 40%40% 15%*15%* 32 stud.32 stud.

(100%)(100%)

Module 2Module 2

elearningelearning32%32% 52%52% 20%20% 25stud.25stud.

Module 3Module 3 67%67% 17%17% 16%16% 34stud.34stud.


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

students?students?Some scepticism arouseSome scepticism arouse

This is only suitable for students with good This is only suitable for students with good computer skills and with good access to computer skills and with good access to computers. computers.

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


What happened?What happened?

99 % of the students had never been e-learning students 99 % of the students had never been e-learning students beforebeforeThey had average computerskillsThey had average computerskillsA lot of East- European students applied for the coursesA lot of East- European students applied for the coursesMany students had limited access to computers / did not Many students had limited access to computers / did not have computer at home, but had to use the computers at have computer at home, but had to use the computers at the Universitiesthe UniversitiesThe tutorials for helping students to get familiar with the The tutorials for helping students to get familiar with the Virtual Classroom was functioning very wellVirtual Classroom was functioning very wellStudents were satisfied with the support from teachersStudents were satisfied with the support from teachers


One of the students summerized One of the students summerized her experience this way..her experience this way..

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


Different ways of communicationDifferent ways of communication

The e-learning students co operated from day The e-learning students co operated from day one with students and teachers from other part one with students and teachers from other part of Europe by the use of internet and by being in of Europe by the use of internet and by being in the same virtual classroom.the same virtual classroom.

The self-study students co operated with their The self-study students co operated with their teacher and fellow students at their own teacher and fellow students at their own University until they came to the summer school University until they came to the summer school in Parma and had a lovely time together with in Parma and had a lovely time together with students from other countries for 16 days.students from other countries for 16 days.


Virtuell campus combined with Virtuell campus combined with summer schoolsummer school

Gives an opportunity Gives an opportunity to get to know each to get to know each others before a real others before a real campuscampusGives possibilities to Gives possibilities to prepare and co prepare and co operate by e-learningoperate by e-learningOpens the possibilities Opens the possibilities to be in contact after to be in contact after the summer schoolthe summer school


It:s learning – a LMS systemIt:s learning – a LMS systemLearning Management SystemLearning Management System

Offers a platform for learning Offers a platform for learning Bulletin boardBulletin boardTutorialsTutorialsElements for learningElements for learning

Tasks/assignmentsTasks/assignments PicturesPictures VideoVideo Respons to assignmentsRespons to assignments Discusion areaDiscusion area Presentation and delivery of Presentation and delivery of

final assignmentsfinal assignments Portfolio examPortfolio exam


How to use video triggers as part of How to use video triggers as part of the educational programmethe educational programme

Questions to students:Questions to students:What is your What is your interpretation of the interpretation of the situation to this woman?situation to this woman?What kind of What kind of intervention(s) would you intervention(s) would you suggest?suggest?Where will she go for help Where will she go for help in your country?in your country?What will be the role of What will be the role of the social worker?the social worker?

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


Welfare SystemsWelfare Systems

Using pictures as Using pictures as triggers for triggers for discussionsdiscussions


What we experiencedWhat we experienced

Knowledge about studentsKnowledge about students Knowledge about administrative Knowledge about administrative

arrangements and roules in different countriesarrangements and roules in different countries Knowledge about common assessmentsKnowledge about common assessments Knowledge about social work in EuropeKnowledge about social work in Europe Knowledge about what a virtual campus can Knowledge about what a virtual campus can

offeroffer Knowledge about the workloadKnowledge about the workload And a lot more…..And a lot more…..


Future PlansFuture Plans

Development of a new administrative and financial model Development of a new administrative and financial model for running international e-learning coursesfor running international e-learning coursesAdjustments of the curriculum plan and modulesAdjustments of the curriculum plan and modules

VIRCLASS will develop and run e-learning coursesVIRCLASS will develop and run e-learning courses

Development of a didactical model and a Virtual Book for Development of a didactical model and a Virtual Book for social work in Europesocial work in EuropeForward the work for integration of international e-Forward the work for integration of international e-learning courses in social work in the curriculum planslearning courses in social work in the curriculum plansIncrease the flexibility for students Increase the flexibility for students Make it possible to use different LMS systems for Make it possible to use different LMS systems for running the courses running the courses


Web-addressesWeb-addresses

http://home.hib.no/ahs/virclasshttp://home.hib.no/ahs/virclass

http://http://www.eusw.unipr.itwww.eusw.unipr.it


Presentation byPresentation by

Assistant professorAssistant professor

Anne Karin LarsenAnne Karin Larsen

Bergen University CollegeBergen University College

Haugeveien 28, 5005 Bergen, NorwayHaugeveien 28, 5005 Bergen, Norway

[email protected]@hib.no

phone:+47 55 587821phone:+47 55 587821

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