VIRCLASS The Virtual Classroom for social work in Europe Summary of the work and future plans

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen2 The idea startet In the first annual meeting in EUSW-TN in Parma in november 2002 Then the idea about e-learning courses in addition to the summer school in Parma started

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen3 Several meetings have been held In Kaunas – May 2003 In Dornbirn – annual meeting EUSW - June 2003 In Madrid - November 2003 In Parma – February 2004 In Hungary, annual meeting EUSW – MAy 2004 In Bergen October 2004 In Jønkøping February 2005 In Amsterdam Sept. 2005

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen4 A lot of travels, and always hard work

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen5 OBJECTIVES for VIRCLASS To develop eLearning courses in Social Work in a comparative perspective for an international group of students with an International group of teachers A common curriculum plan and readings To be integrated in studieplans in BA and MA programmes at the Universities An be interesting for professional social workers who wish an international perspective on social work

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen6 The elements in the project Curriculum co operation Administration, organisation and coordination Development of a virtual campus for social work in Europe Dissemination of results

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen7 The VirClass project The Partnerships in the Virclass project was established by the first Minerva application in –This application was not approved The second application to SOFF/NUV resulted in financial support for : NOK HIB supported the project with the same amount of money each year. Up till autumn 2004 the EUSW-TN programme made the group meetings possible by support for travel costs and accomodation.

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen8 What we have managed to do so far: A common curriculum plan with 20ECTS 3 modules – –2-elearning, –1 selfstudy and summer school Administration of and running the studyprogramme Dissemination of results New applications

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen9 Let’s start with the educational programme CURRICULUM PLAN And the overall objectives……..

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen10 Gain knowledge and understanding about: Commonalities and differences in social work as subject and profession in Europe Anti-oppressive practice in social work Social situation by comparing and analyse situations in different countries Welfare systems and social policies in different countries and the implication this may have for social work Social work education and methodical and theoretical input to professional practice

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen11 Social Work in Europe Commonalities and Differences Module 1 gives an introduction to European social work This Module is based on the first book production of EUSW-TN Students can do this as self-study or as an e- learning student. 5 ECTS

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen12 If you can’t go abroad.. 2.1: Anti-oppressive social work. Ethics, theories, methods and working principles 2.2: The Welfare Systems in Europe 2.3: Social Work Education. Skill training and professional competence

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen13 Module 2.1 include 3 possible options 2.1: Anti-oppressive social work. Ethics, theories, methods and working principles A.Discrimination and oppression as phenomenon in Europe B.Poverty as phenomenon in Europe C.Ethnic Diversity as phenomenon in Europe

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen14 ECTS 5 ects = 7 weeks part time study 10 ects =14 weeks part time study 1 ects = 1 week full time study (40 hours) As par time student 1ects=1,4 week

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen15 Applications from students The study programme was adverticed by posters sent to all Universities And by advertising on web-sites Deadline for application 1.November 2004

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen16 The target groups are Professional social workers Social work students undertaking bachelor’s programmes or post-graduate programmes/MA/PhD

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen17 Running the study programme Handling 120 applications from students from all over Europe

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen18 Who were the students in the Virclass project: Nationalities: Finland Germany Greece Iceland Italy Lithuania Norway Nationalities: Romania Sweden Turkey Macedonia Spain Estonia Poland Austria Age:19-50 – majority under 25 year of age

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen19 EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND ModuleBA/DIPL.MA/PhDSocial Workers No. of Students M1 eLearning 53%40%15%*32(100% M2 eLearning 32%52%20%*25(100% M3 67%17%16%*34(100% *The total percentage amount to more than 100%. This is because some of the MA andPhD students also were working as professional social workers in addition to their studies

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen applications from students Module 1selfstudy Module 1 eLearning Module 2 eLearning Module 3 Summer school applications Participating students Students who did the final assignment

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen21 Reasons for reductions Students were: –Not well enough informed about the curriculum plan and the time schedule, the demand about exam/final assignments –Did not have time to do the course in addition to other educational programme, family life and job –Wanted to join the summer school, without doing the work before –Some students who did not need the credits skiped the final assignment –Some students started with module 1 selfstudy at the same time as module 2 started resulted in too much work at the same time

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen22 Reasons for reductions Students were not fully aware of the demand and extend of co operation needed due to the taskoriented method in the courses Some student had too limited access to computeres and internet Some technical problems in the begining of the courses

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen23 Teachers experience Most of the teachers did eLearning courses for the first time Difficulties with planning the progress and amount of work every week and during the courses. eLearning pedagogy demands some new skills in teaching Takes some time to learn how to work on the It:s Learning platform

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen24 Dissemination of results NUV-conferences in Oslo – 2004 (The Norwegian Opening University) NSHK – Nordic Socialwork education committee, 21.st conference in Copenhagen, August 2005 Home-page: EUSW-TN annual meetings

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen25 Partners in the project period partners have been involved in the Virclass project: –Kjell Henriksbø – Bergen University College –Anne Karin Larsen – Bergen University College (coordinator) –Bob Sanders – University of Wales, Swansea –Klas-Göran Olsson – School of health and Social Sciences, Jønkøping, Sweden –Julija Eidukeviciute – University of Kaunas, Lithuania –Annamaria Campanini – University of Parma, Italy –Andres Arias Astray – University of Complutense, Madrid, Spain –Commune di Parma, Parma, Italy –Magne Ervik - City of Bergen, Bergen, Norway –Joni Kylmälä - Polytechnic Helsinki, Finland

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen26 Participants in developing the educational programme and running the courses Eduardo de Marques – Instituto Superior Miquel Torga, Coimbra, Portugal (new partner) University of Warminsko-Mazurski W, Olztyn, Poland (new partner) Answin Weissenborn - Hochschule Vorarlberg, Austria (new partner) Morten Fahlvik - Mediacentre – HIB (new partner) Carsten Otte, Mannheim, Germany NEW PARTNERS from 2006: Remmelt Veenkamp, INHOLLAND, Haarlem (new partner) Frank Weber – Hochschule Vorarlberg, Austria (new partner) Lisbeth Thomassen – Mediacentre Bergen Grete Oline Hole - HIB Olav Hauken - HIB

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen27 The future financial situation ? We hope that the eLearning application/EU will be approved (result in October/November) We hope that we will be funded once more from NUV We know there will be some support from HIB for the next year.

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen28 Main objectives for the next project period A model for didactical approach to eLearning courses in Social Work education Creation of a Virtual Book A model for administration and finance for international eLearning courses in Social Work in Europe

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen29 Plans for future Adjustments of curriculumplan and modules - ects Develop a new administrative and financial modell Development of a didactical model and a Virtual Book about social work in Europe Increase the flexibility in the study programme Make the study available for use in other LMS programmes

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen30

HIB-AHS- Anne Karin Larsen31 It:s learning – a LMS system This Learning Management System consists of: Bulletin Board Tutorials Links Organising the material in folders and files Discussion area –Syncronic –Non syncronic Possibilities to –Upload files –Pictures –Video To administrate exam –To upload tasks and use the portfolio method Includes a register for participants in courses –Internal/external messages –Statistics of progress Calender function