Community Portraits: Online Learning and Community Building Liz Timms Duncan Timms Dept. of Social Work CRDLT, University of Edinburgh University of Stirling

EU-Projects ODELUCE: Open and Distance Education and Learning through University Continuing Education. SCHEMA: Social Cohesion through Higher Education in Marginal Areas.

Community Portraits n Developed from a social work course (face-to-face) at Edinburgh University, Scotland. n Transformed into an online module in Pilot designed to investigate online collaboration between different H&W professions (in Finland, Germany and Scotland).

Programme z Weeks 1-5: Introductory Phase x Week 1: Introductions x Weeks 2-3:Develop protocol for collaborative working x Week 4: Consider notion of community x Week 5: Introduce communities z Weeks 6-16: Project Work x Weeks 6 - 8: Groups work independently of each other monitored by tutor x Week 9: Groups review their progress x Weeks : Work on portraits x Week 13: Group presentations x Weeks : Group assessments of portraits  Week 16: Reflection on collaboration online

Community Portraits: The Introductory Page

Community Portraits Extension in 2001 to community members. n Extension in 2001 to community members. n Pilot online in conjunction with face-to-face collaboration between residents in Swedish housing estate (lone parents & senior citizens).

Some views of Skarpnäck “The project “Some views of Skarpnäck” is an attempt to present some perspectives on Skarpnäck, our community as well as the people living there. This project, is made in co-operation with the University of Edinburgh and the University of Stirling in Scotland to create contacts between different places and countries.“ By Eva Sjögren Paul Anding Yvonne Nenander Assisted by it-cafeet (for the whole presentation see

HU11: Community Portraits Extension in 2002 to be part of WHO pilot programme for Family Health Nurse degree in Highlands and Islands of Scotland n Extension in 2002 to be part of WHO pilot programme for Family Health Nurse degree in Highlands and Islands of Scotland stand-alone module in online portfolio offered by University of Stirling stand-alone module in online portfolio offered by University of Stirling

Rationale The Community as a Context n The Community as a Context n The social construction of communtiy n Collaboration as a Method for Working (and Learning) The Internet as an Enabler of Collaboration The Internet as an Enabler of Collaboration

Initial Outcome of Pilots Developing interaction takes time n Developing interaction takes time n Diffident Approach to Differences n Group Dynamics different online The necessity of feedback and support The necessity of feedback and support

Lessons The importance of Informal Exchanges n The importance of Informal Exchanges n Bonding is Important for Offline Collaboration n Bridging is Easier Online Intervention and Support from Tutor as and when required Intervention and Support from Tutor as and when required

Contact Details n Liz Timms - Duncan Timms - n web addresse: