E-learning and learning at K.U.Leuven How we benefit from lessons learnt with the introduction of a digital learning environment at K.U.Leuven Wim Van Petegem

History 1425: founding, Latin working language 1835: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven 1911: increasing use of Dutch 1936: duplication of teaching languages (Dutch & French) 1965: founding of the Kortrijk Campus 1970: splitting of the university (Leuven & Louvain-la-Neuve) 2002:K.U.Leuven Association founded

K.U.Leuven General Information  students  employees  14 faculties  Geographical distribution over Leuven, Heverlee & Kortrijk  About 500 buildings  international students (16/1/2004), coming from more than 120 different countries, 75% enrolled in postgraduate or doctoral study programs  572 outgoing Erasmus students, 591 incoming (in )  56 study programmes in English, and >10 joint programmes

Internet Connectivity Belnet Gigabit network K.U.Leuven ICT Facilities

Internet Connectivity

PC Classrooms  Public accessible 24 hours / day, 6 days a week  17 classrooms, 500 PC’s  internet connectivity via KULeuvenNet  Reservations for class activities or individual use  Printer facilities by using print cards K.U.Leuven ICT Facilities

PC renting  price range: € / month (= cost of a pint of beer per day)  buy off option with recovery of paid money  Success PC-shop (Sale)  hardware  software: campus licenses K.U.Leuven ICT Facilities

KOTNET (about users)  Strategic vision  Added value  Optional  For every student  Without financial thresholds  low cost  preferably fixed amount  target 0 €  K.U.Leuven dormitories connected to K.U.Leuvennet  free  Private rooms: connected via Television cable  5,5 € per month per student  Dial in  telephone cost K.U.Leuven ICT Facilities

Educational concept: Guided Independent Learning  Students learn best when they can act as independent critical researchers within their discipline  Students become responsible for their own learning  Teachers on the other hand are responsible to adequately coach their students K.U.Leuven Education

“Let a thousand flowers bloom”  Isolated projects  Carried by enthusiastic individuals or small teams  Ad hoc, micro-level  Funding  University (OOI)  Regional (STIHO)  European (EC) K.U.Leuven anno 2000 ICT in education

“Let a thousand flowers bloom” Some impressive results Awareness raising Enthusiasm and goodwill  Lot of reinventing the wheel  Results disappear as projects finish & individuals leave (Doesn’t scale up)  Hard to support centrally (educationally & technically)  No consolidation, no “share and reuse”  Too fragmented, no integration for students K.U.Leuven anno 2000 ICT in education

“Let a thousand flowers bloom”  Only small-scale impact  However, this phase of experience and adaptation was critical for the introduction of.... K.U.Leuven anno 2000 ICT in education

 Logo Alcatara-bridge in Toledo (Spain) Bridge between students and faculty  Acronym Toetsen en Leren Doeltreffend Ondersteunen Effectively supporting Testing and Learning  Project Aim is to implement and support (technically and pedagogically) a digital learning environment for all students and faculty at the K.U.Leuven K.U.Leuven anno 2001 Toledo

 July 2001  purchase of software and hardware  Augustus 2001  installation  Load all courses  Load all teacher-course combinations  Enrol all students in mandatory courses  September 2001  Roll-out  The use of Toledo is on voluntary basis  Information sessions in all departments were organized  For more experienced users: workshops were organized K.U.Leuven anno 2001 Toledo: GO!

 December 2003  More than active students  Over 1250 active teachers  More than 1500 active courses  hits/day ( max last year) K.U.Leuven anno 2003 Toledo in use

Reasons for the impact on micro & meso level ?  The software  Easy to use  minimal training  user friendly  Reliable  Offers basic functionalities...  Embedded in the university’s  technical infrastructure  administrative systems  organisation of education (i.e. Toledo is course oriented) K.U.Leuven anno 2005 The impact of Toledo

Support –Central Vice-President Teaching Various advisory and working groups Support services: – Teaching Support Office (DUO/ ICTO) – Study Advice Centre (DSA) – Teaching Policy Unit (DOWB) – Continuing Education Office (DPV) – Institute for Teacher Training (AVL) – Audiovisual Service/ e-Link / Open University (AVNet) –Decentral

AVNet Audiovisual and New Educational Technologies

AVNet: three units Audiovisual Services –Production of interactive multimedia (learning)material eLINK –eLearning in an International Network of Knowledge Study centre Open University –Distance learning

Our mission an integrated, multidisciplinary support (mainly) for education at K.U.Leuven and in its Association with regard to media, organisational, pedagogical, and technological aspects, and particular focus on networked e-learning and distance education in an international context

Expertise centre Education support

Our three-layer support model 1.We stimulate teachers (students) to produce AV/MM or other e-learning projects on their own: focus on simple and cheap solutions. 2.We offer teachers (students) advice and facilities (for free) at AVNet to work on their own with professional tools and our infrastructure. 3.We make it for you (not completely for free).

Our support Distance education for non-campus students Digitisation and compression Distribution Networked e-learning Maintenance and repairment Integral Multimedia support in lecture halls Editing facilities Production of AV/MM programs Support for Toledo Rental service for AV/MM equipment Videoconferencing Video copy service

Our expertise Advice, consultancy and study Documentation and information centre Networking and representation Research projects Development cooperation Support for copy rights Education and training FAQ and help desk

Our projects Just finished: –cEVU, S2Net, Seequel, UNISYS –VIZO Current projects: –Eu[Comp]Int, eLERU, EUREA, REVE, Victorious –Tempus Bosnia-Herzegovina, Alfa-FADO –OOP –Vlir-IUC Harare (Zimbabwe) Just accepted: –VENUS –Tempus Croatia (EQIBELT) –Being Mobile

Our training Courses: –AV/MM in Toledo (for K.U.Leuven) –Informatics and media (for dentists) –Video production (for communication sciences) –Multimedia Production Management (for UNZI) Training: –AV/MM in Toledo (for K.U.Leuven) –Use of editing suites (for K.U.Leuven) –Use of AV/MM equipment in lecture halls (for K.U.Leuven) –Development of audiovisual learning materials (for Vlir) –Videoconferencing (for the Association) Seminars Study counseling Open University

Our infrastructure video studio 6 video editing suites multi camera production facilities videoconferencing (ISDN en IP) and interaction room streaming media server documentation and information centre AV rental service

Contact More information? Link: Mail: Call: Fax: Visit: Kapeldreef 62, 3001 Heverlee