Web-based Collaboration and Students’ Mobility in Learning Partnership ENGALL project

Grundtvig 2 Conference, Joy of Learning 2006 Tiina Sarisalmi Finland ENGALL – Engaging New Groups of Adults in Lifelong Learning Our original goal was to learn from each other in order to improve the quality and conditions of teaching and diversify and develop our curriculum in our educational organizations to meet the demands and expectations of modern adults, both men and women.

Grundtvig 2 Conference, Joy of Learning 2006 Tiina Sarisalmi Finland PARTNERS Instituto Provincial de Formación de Adultos de Córdoba, Spain (Coordinator)* Oriveden seudun kansalaisopisto, Finland* Volkshochschule Lörrach, Germany* Escuela Oficial de idiomas de Lleida, Spain* Osrodek Doskonalenia Nauczycieli, Poland Volkshochschule Blundenz, Austria Slovenska akademicka Informacna Agentura, Slovakia * Took part in third year students’ collaboration and mobility

Grundtvig 2 Conference, Joy of Learning 2006 Tiina Sarisalmi Finland Partners in Finland

Grundtvig 2 Conference, Joy of Learning 2006 Tiina Sarisalmi Finland Path Towards Students’ Collaboration and Mobility We learned to know each other and all the participating organizations (first year) We shared our special expertise and discussed for example eLearning (first and second year) We started to use Moodle learning environment for our mutual communication and correspondence (second year) We realized that, as we teacher had learned so much from each other, it was only fair to give the same opportunity to our students as well

Grundtvig 2 Conference, Joy of Learning 2006 Tiina Sarisalmi Finland Students’ Collaboration We decided to involve our English students in the European cooperation Students’ collaboration started in October 2005 and took place in a shared virtual learning environment (Engall Project Platform) on a course called In English in Europe. Students wrote letters in forums, learned about each others’ countries and traditions, did exercises and quizzes etc. There were photo galleries, video clips, mp3-songs and mp3 everyday language glossary. Teachers used chat, forums and s for planning and communication Moodle.Moodle

Grundtvig 2 Conference, Joy of Learning 2006 Tiina Sarisalmi Finland Why Web-based Collaboration? Importance of introducing ICT and web-based learning to adult students to meet the demands of information society Motivate students in a very special way in their English studies Specific advantages in the students’ learning to know each other before actually meeting

Grundtvig 2 Conference, Joy of Learning 2006 Tiina Sarisalmi Finland Students’ Mobility Three different meetings, one in Finland, one in Germany and one in Spain During each visit students spent three days together e.g. cooking, fishing, visiting each others homes, eating (a lot), singing and sight-seeing Partly things were done in small groups of 5-6, partly all together Carmen put it this way: “Today, I can only say that I thank everybody, the school, my family, Europe, my new friends from Germany and Finland and everybody that made possible this experience.”

Grundtvig 2 Conference, Joy of Learning 2006 Tiina Sarisalmi Finland Students’ Mobility Rafa: “I have two children and never before my exchange visit I had think the importance of travel to another country and to speak other languages. Now I know and I have told my children, especially the old who is eleven, that he will have to go to other countries and to learn other languages because it is important for the understanding of other cultures and other forms of life and because you learn many more things living with the people than study or reading about them.” Heidrun: “The ENGALL project is an arrangement which brings different European cultures together and teach the participants about the live and behaviour in other countries, it establish new friendships and helps in small steps to bring the unification of Europe forward.”

Grundtvig 2 Conference, Joy of Learning 2006 Tiina Sarisalmi Finland IMPACT - students Focus on the learners Cross-curricular approach was introduced in adult education Students’ commitment and motivation increased radically Students’ self-confidence developed Students English communication skills improved European dimension: tolerance and understanding increased Students’ ICT skills developed

Grundtvig 2 Conference, Joy of Learning 2006 Tiina Sarisalmi Finland IMPACT - teachers Teachers’ role changed – teacher as a guide on the path of learning and supplier of resources Project management skills developed ICT skills improved Foreign language skills improved Professional identity, commitment and work motivation were strengthened Team work skills improved

Grundtvig 2 Conference, Joy of Learning 2006 Tiina Sarisalmi Finland IMPACT - organization Engall group teachers’ took the role of developers International collaboration has become one of the main factors in developing our institute Cross-curricular activities are strongly supported Encounters of Cultures, Doing it Differently, Crossing Borders and Barriers are the three principles introduced by Engall project and put into practice in our everyday curriculum today.

Grundtvig 2 Conference, Joy of Learning 2006 Tiina Sarisalmi Finland Now and in the Future All third year partners are still involved Most of the last year students are still involved and many more have joined in We are starting a shared virtual English course in our open learning environment Students are making plans to visit each other (without EU support)

Grundtvig 2 Conference, Joy of Learning 2006 Tiina Sarisalmi Finland engall (English) engall (English) age=engall (Finnish) age=engall