SWOT-ANALYSES CVO Leuven - Landen Redingenstraat Leuven

Name school: Antwerpen-Zuid Open Multimedia Classroom (Belgium) CVO Leuven - Landen Redingenstraat Leuven

STRENGHTS - interdisciplinary collaboration - organization - collaboration in order to develop material (eg. support, technicians, own recording studio) CVO Leuven - Landen Redingenstraat Leuven

development of the material and support are financed reception is kept open administrative collaborators, opening hours are very flexible database with all information (results, content, attitude, counseling) deliberation (after each final examination with the counselor present)

laptop cabinet (can be taken into the class) who takes part? own initiative the Open Multimedia Classroom is a subject in the course + visit

COUNSELLING - Our school doesn’t have an Open Multimedia Classroom but is an Open Multimedia Classroom (link ‘normal course’ + electronic platform + guidance in the OMC and study groups) - easy approachable (cafeteria, enrollment and counseling are very close) - different study groups - to tackle ‘individual’ problems CVO Leuven - Landen Redingenstraat Leuven

well developed use of the electronic platform (extra exercises, remedy, smartboard, learning paths,...) CVO TV: instruction with movies (eg. indirect speech, perfect, …) follow up and support of the teachers * study groups: grammar (1.2/2.1 en 2.2/2. 3), understanding, talking, dare to talk and basis 1.1 (to be developed: 2.3/2.4) Study groups are free of charge

1 counselor follows the learner during this study huge support (exercises and methods) flexible system (eg. late arrivals 1.1 get support in a study group) follow up of the learners (counselors are immediately notified when a learner is absent) anticipation (eg. study groups are already formed during deliberation) facilities contracts for learners with a handicap

WEAKNESSES Infrastructure and finances - study groups are too non-committal (absences?) - not all the learners are reached - infrastructure: room is not big enough - organization (eg. of the study groups)

THREATS time investment is bigger then the results, not all exercises are as interesting commitment of the learners, often of those who really need the OLC, is not always enough Own material can be digitalized (what about the market?)

Name of the school Arcus college Heerlen (The Netherlands)

Dutch for foreigners in the Netherlands Regional education providers (or private institutions) Focus on the state examination Budget cuts (courses might end in 2014)

Arcuscollege 3 different pathways - literacy (2,5 years) - integration (40 weeks, focus on the examination, level A1 – A2) - language training (state examination B1 or B2; learners are skilled and want to study

Integration course Learners learn practical things like how to open a bank account, how do men and women socialize = not a language course Learners succeed if they can handle all the practical activities They start whenever they want = mixed groups Tests are in function of the state examination

E-learning in the integration course Teacher introduces the subject during 45 minutes Learner practice alone in the open classroom Guidance by former learners working for 6 months in the open classroom

Counselling From the start ½ hour per week (course = 15 hours) Mentors are teachers Counselling - to register the learners for the state examination - to arrange for an internship - to facilitate the transition to a job

- to redirect the learners if there are problems - to report to the municipality (digital portfolio) - to practice together with the learner (if necessary) Each teacher is coach and teacher (50-50). The e-learning is no part of the counselling.

STRENGTHS Counselling is integrated in the daily school routine from the start Tasks are well defined Combination of lessons and individual work in the open classroom is motivating and adapted to each learner Classroom practice are combined with internship and practical everyday activities

97% success rate Higher educated can go directly to specific classes after a preparation (immersion) of 4 weeks Learning how to learn is well developed from day 1 Many computers Flexible system Counselling is part of the teachers’ workpackage

Groups are too big and heterogenous Not tailor made (what about the needs of the learners?) Teachers are not skilled enough (primary school teachers because they are cheaper) Focus on the Dutch habits (what about cultural differences, multiculturality, …) Focus on the examination (quality?) Assistants are former learners who have to work. Can they really help? WEAKNESSES

THREATS Budget cuts in 2014 (2011: ROC is paid for each learner who passes the examination) Learners who already study must work for 6 months in order to integrate (burden) Big Brother (digital portfolio to the municipality can lead to less money for the learner)

OPPORTUNITIES The system allows learners to work on their own pace and repeat if necessary Individual follow-up in counselling Open classroom is provided with sufficient infrastructure, computer programs, speech technology, …