Anne Karin Larsen HiB

Agenda Background information About the consortium The educational programmes Year report 2008/09 Students in VIRCLASS - Meetings - Account - New learning materials (Development) - Research and dissimination (Research) - Teacher and student experiences (Education)

Consortium ORGANISATION Since april 2007 VIRCLASS is organised as a Consortium Partners share the administrative costs and deliver teachers and assessors Free study places for students from Partner institutions Some scholarships offered to students from EUSW member institutions and East-European countries 3 Collums: Education – Development - Research Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College

VIRCLASS MISSION To enhance the Bologna Principles in SW education International collaboration in education E-learning courses in comparative social work Curriculum development Develop competences in e-pedagogy Develop virtual learning material Research and dissemination Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College

Vision To become THE VIRTUAL CLASSROOM for international social work programme in Europe To become A World Wide platform for e-learning courses in social work Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College

Objectives To integrate the VIRCLASS e-learning study Social Work in Europe as an optional course in ordinary Social Work programmes for BA students at the Universities in Europe To develop trans-continental e-learning courses in comparative community work method To increase the competence in e-learning pedagogy among teachers in HEI Europe, and specially in the partner institutions To develop an international BA in Comparative Social Work including the VIRCLASS courses. Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College

Target group Social Work BA students from 2nd year. Professional social workers Open also for Master students

Educational programme Optional courses in BA and MA programmes in SW 2 modules ECTS credits Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College

Module 2: Comparative Social Work. European Perspective on Core aspect of Social Work 2A: Discrimination, Oppression and Ethnic diverstiy as phenomenon in Europe. Antioppressive approaches to Social work 2B: Poverty and Welfare systems in Europe. Anti oppressive approaches to Social Work 2C: Social Work Theories and Methods in Context Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College

Other VIRCLASS courses E-pedagogy for teachers in HEI – 10 ECTS credits (7,5 in 2008)

New module in Community Work Starting in January ECTS credits 55 students

Principles of teaching and learning A task centred approach to learning Learning by dialog Reflection on learning Transparency Collaboration Comparative methods Portfolio assessment Competence based curriculum plan Introduction to e- pedagogy Introduction to e- pedagogy Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College

Tools for collaboration Learning Management System (LMS) It’s Learning Tutorials Discussion area Synchronic Asynchronic MSN, Skype Google.doc Virtual learning material The Virtual Books Teachers online meetings – VITERO conferences Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College

Number of students since the beginning 4 cohorts of students since Approximately 200 students have participated 15 countries have been represented 15 teachers and assessors involved from 10 countries Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College

Overview of 45 applicants 2008 (students) Students starting in the course ULHT: 4 Mannheim: 9 INH: 7 HiB: 4 KHK: 6 ISMT: 6 UCM:4 Other Universities: 5 HHJ:0 31 Students fulfilling the course ULHT: 0 Mannheim: 9 INH: 6 HiB: 4 KHK: 6 ISMT:4 UCM:1 Other Universities1

Other applicants Comes from Portugal (mostly professional social workers) 1 applicant from Masaryk University, Brno

Age 45 students started years old - 24 students - 3 male years old - 15 students 36 < years old - 6 students

Applicants wish for study programme 45 students applied – 17 students only for M1 In the application the students who wanted to take both M1 + M2 were approximately equally shared among the three modules After finishing Module 1 less than 17 students started in Module 2 (9 in M2A, and 8 in M2B) and only 9 students finished the course

Students results Module 1: 34 students 7- mark A 2- mark B 11- mark C 9 - mark D 3 - mark E 1- mark F 1- did not deliver Module 2A: 5 students 1- mark A 1- mark B 1- mark C 1- mark E 1- mark F Module 2B 4 students 2 – mark A 1 – mark B 1 – mark D

Students results/institution/M1 KHK = 3-D, 3-C, 1-F INH = 3-D, 2-C, 1-E HiB = 2-A, 2-B Mannheim = 3-A, 6-C UCM = 1-E ISMT = 1-A, 1-C, 1-D, 1-E Lusofona = 1- did not deliver Vorarlberg = 1-D CZ = 1-D

Students result/institution/M2 ISMT = 1-A, 2-E HiB = 2-A, 2-B INH = 1-D UCM = 1-F

E-Pedagogy course Spring 2008: 8 students 3 from Spain, (2 UCM, 1 Salamanca) 2 from Germany (1 Mannheim, 1 Alice Salomon) 1 from South Africa (University of Cape Town) 2 from Netherland (INH, Haarlem, Den Haag) Spring 2009: 3 students 1 from Mannheim, 1 from KHKempen, 1 from INH

Results – mark A 2 – mark B 3 – mark D 1 – did not deliver

Use of the VITERO conference room VIRCLASS: Marques MixedSetting (1 conference) Marques MixedSetting E-pedagogy 3 meetings E-pedagogy Teacher meeting Module 1(2 meetings) Teacher meeting Module 1 Teacher meeting Module 2 (3 meetings)eacher meeting Steering Committee meeting (2 meetings) meeting SW-VirCamp: Consortium meeting (1 meeting) Consortium meeting Leader meeting (2 meetings) Leader meeting WP2 (1 meeting) WP2 WP3 (1 meeting) WP3 WP6 (1 meeting)6 So far 46 people have participated in VITERO meetings Number of VITERO meetings during the contract period: 17 meetings In addition to this 3 training sessions with 8 participants Duration of the meetings approximately 1-2 hours

ACCOUNT Income from 10 partners: Euro Surplus from 2007: Euro Salary costs: Euro VITERO rent: Euro Other costs: Euro Operating profit: Euro

Development New learning material: Digital e-pedagogy course Virtual book in e-pedagogy Virtual book in community work (SW-VirCamp)

ANDRÉS ARIAS ASTRAY E.U.T.S. UCM. Mannheim, 9-vi-2009

Papers in peer reviewed journals Larsen, A.K., Sanders, R., Arias Astray, A. Hole G. O. (2008). E-teacher Challenges and Comptetences in International Comparative Social Work Courses. Social Work Education: The International Journal, 27 (6), 623 – 633

 The paper presents how technology used by VIRCLASS: ▫ Enables the development of multimedia learning material. ▫ Creates a supportive learning environment for students and teachers. ▫ Promotes communication across national borders.  Underlines : ▫ The process of developing a common curriculum plan ▫ The development of digital competence on the part of the teachers.  Discusses the impact on the teachers' role of using a Virtual Book with screen lectures, audio-visual triggers and a video- case. ▫ From a socio-cultural perspective ▫ The development of a new teacher role, where teachers can be seen as a Community of Learners

From the teachers' experiences, four important e-teacher competences (knowledge, skills and attitudes) emerge:  Facilitator competences  ICT competences  Supervision/coaching competences,  Collaboration competences.

CompetencesKnowledgeSkillsAttitudes Facilitator competences (Student-centred teaching competences)  Socio-cultural learning perspective  Task-centred approach to learning  Interpersonal knowledge  Skills in developing good triggers and tasks that contributes to learning.  Skills in making personal presentation by using the VLE  Communication skills  The students are active participating learners.  Students and teachers are learners together  Equality and Respect  Awareness and attention to the importance of quick response to students work and requests ICT competences  About VLE and other software promoting teaching and learning  Ability choosing the right tools suitable for specific educational purposes.  Making digital learning material  Using available Internet resources  Chat moderating skills  Openness, courage and creativity towards digital learning and creative use of ICT  ICT opens new possibilities to international collaboration in Social Work Education Supervision /Coaching competences  Knowledge about supervision, coaching methods and reflection  Skills in creating engagement  Skills in giving constructive written feedback  Skills in different ways of stimulating students work and reflection on learning.  Ability to empower students  Let the students voice be heard and respected.  Openness amongst teachers, as well amongst students – learning from each other  (Transparency) Collaboration competences  Knowledge about group and team working and methods to trigger communication and dialog in e-learning  Interpersonal knowledge  Skills in different ways of using the VLE for communication, like; Chat, discussion room, bulletin board.  Allocate time for collaboration  Set up decision making in groups  The belief that knowledge is constructed by dialogue and collaboration between human beings.  A group oriented attitude

Chapters in books Larsen, A.K (2009): Open Distance Learning as Instrument for Teaching and Learning Social Work in a Changing Europe (Presentation of the VIRCLASS project). In Ewa Kantowicz (Ed.): Role of Research in Education for Social Work in Europe. Olsztynie: Uniwersytetu Warminsko-Mazurskiego

Conference Papers and presentations (2/4) 2008 Larsen, AK (2008) New Technology in social work education. Teaching and learning experience through VIRCLASS. What is E-teacher competences and e- pedagogy. Towards a worldwide virtual campus. EUSW Annual Conference: State of the Art of Social Work in Europe: in dialogue with the world through learning. Maastrich, The Netherlands Marques, E., Astray,A., Larsen, A. K., Hole, G. O. (2008) E- learning students: reasons for dropout: the case of virclass (the vitual classroom for social work in europe) EDEN 2008 Annual Conference - New Learning Cultures: how do we learn? Where do we learn? Lisboa, Portugal.

Conference Papers and presentations (1/4) 2008 Larsen, Anne Karin, Hole, Grete Oline (2008) Research on Community Work and Community work education. Research Seminar : Productive Disruption Bjørnefjorden, OS. Larsen, Anne Karin (2008) New Technology in social work education. Teaching and learning experience through VIRCLASS. What is E-teacher competeneces and e-pedagogy. Towards a worldwide virtual campus. Research conference, Mont Fleur, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa

Conference Papers and presentations (3/4) 2008 Astray, A.; Larsen, A.K.; Marques, E.; y de Lucas, F. (2008) Virclass: Una Propuesta de Internaciolización para los Estudios de Grado en Trabajo Social. National Congress of Schools of Social Work. Granada Spain. Astray, A. (2008). “VIRCLASS, Trabajo Social en Europa: nuevas tecnologías para el Trabajo Social”. Seminario Interuniversitario: Intervención Social en Inmigración, Violencia y Género. Especial referencia a las TIC’S. Salamanca University. Spain.

Conference Papers and presentations (4/4) 2008 Olsson, Klas-Göran: Det virtuella klassrummet för "Social Work in Europe". Ett verktyg för utveckling av socialt arbete i Europa. Presentasion og Poster at Vetenskapens Dag, Hälsohögskolan i Jönköping. 5.March 2008 Veenkamp, R: VIRCLASS presentation at HBO-raad - national teachers conference, Haarlem Astray, A., Larsen, A. K., Olsson, K. G Visser – Rotgans, R. (2009): Individualized communities, social cohesion and challenges for Social Work. ENSACT conference, Dubrovnik, Croatia.ENSACT conference

Highlights of the courses Students’ and teachers’ experiences in VIRCLASS ’08 – ’09 M1 & M2 Presentation by Remmelt Veenkamp

Facts: Survey filled in by 60% of the students 15 countries represented 80% undergraduated 20% professional Social Worker 95% first time e-learning experience

The learning process 95% experienced the learning information as good 70% both read and look at the material in the Virtual Book Students found the lessons: informative 100%, relevant 80%, clear 75%, interesting 100%

Transparancy 75 % rated the ‘ open portfolio’ method as good or very good “ it is a democratic environment. I was very pleased with this” “ I ‘ve learned a lot of the work and feedback from other students” “ it enhances my learning process”

Comments ‘ The lessons were interesting’ ‘ sometimes it was a bit difficult, because also not all the teachers are not native English speakers’ ‘ It was nice to hear someone speak, and not only read’ Maybe more practical examples like documentaries

Triggers: “ I liked the triggers, because they let me think harder on subjects. I found it nice to give my opinion and reflect on the different material” “ I would like to get feedback as well on the the trigger tasks”

Triggers “The use of the trigger was for me also a big value in Virclass. The triggers were a tool to make me see things from a different point of view. Also the fact that every person made his opinion about the trigger clear on the ‘ theme discussions’ made me realize that people not always see things the way I see them!”

Teacher presentations “ I loved it all. It made me feel that I could learn a lot from them. I’ m very proud to have this opportunity. They are my heroes in many aspects”

Reading list Definitely too advanced 11% Rather advanced 63% Just right 22% Too basic 4% “ sometimes it was too much for me” “It should include more material for the themes”

Teacher help Informational support 90% good to very good Technical support 80% good to very good Emotional support 60% good to very good

Overall experience The platform was easy to navigate 80% Easy to understand 70% Tutorials easy to follow step by step 80% The workload was right 37% disagree, 25% agree, 25% neutral 95% reached their expectations with this course 95% rated the course as good / very good

Additional comments “The teachers helped us a lot, feedback was given in time” “ the help of the teachers, as well as from the students was great” “ The cultural environment was challenging and great” “ it was a very challenging, interesting and unforgettable time for me!”

Outcomes of the teacher meeting New subject added in M1 ‘Status of Social Work in Europe’ Use of the blog will be encouraged as a individual reflection tool Updating of the literature list Increasing of triggers in M2b New title for M2c Dividing of the tasks Exceed the use of the case in Module 2a and 2b

Point of attentions Institutional support for teachers developing their English speaking and writing level Increasing of the teacher staff Facilitation of teachers by e-pedagogy course