1. The SW-VirCamp project: Aims and Achievements
SW-Vircamp Consortium Meeting – Liepaja 2-3 September 2010
The SW-VirCamp project: Aims and Achievements
By Anne Karin Larsen, HiB

2. We started with 12 partners – 3 or 4 partners will not renew the contract
P4-HHJ Sweden
P7-Swansea Wales – UK
P8-HSM Germany
P11-ULHT Portugal ?
P1-HiB Norway
P2-INH the Netherlands
P3-UCM Spain
P4-HHJ Sweden
P5-ISMT Portugal
P6-HSMA Germany
P7-Swansea Wales – UK
P8-HSM Germany
P9-LPA Latvia
P10-HIBO Norway
P11-ULHT Portugal
P12-K.H.Kempen Belgium
The P1-P6 where Partners in VIRCLASS and the founders of the SW-VirCamp. P7 had been working as teacher in VIRCAMP and P8 – P12 became new partners in the new Consortium.
P11 and P12 became partners in VIRCLASS in the beginning of the SW-VirCamp project period.
The situation after 2 years of partnership in SW-VirCamp is that P4, P7, P8 and maybe also P11 have decided not to renew the contract of partnership.

3. 3 associated partners UKZN – South Africa
UWC - South Africa
UTA - Chile
UKZN – contribute in developing a book for the Community Work course
UWC – contribute with a screen lecture for the CW course
UTA – did not have any contact during the period

4. Project budget
2 years project starting in October 2008 – September 2010
Total cost: Euro
Community grants requested: Euro
Member funding: Euro

5. MAIN OBJECTIVES
To develope an international BA specialisation in Social Work
To develop a sustainable Virtual Campus serving the specialisation as an international learning community
Upgrading of the competences of technical and media staff involved in developing virtual learning material
To develop an e-learning module in Community Work with Virtual Learning Material
To ensure high quality for the project period and beyond by developing a quality guide
To disseminate the project and its results to stakeholders

6. The Model for the international specialisation

7. Main planned outcomes
A Virtual Campus – multifunctional learning community The possibilities for developing an International Specialization in social work. Presented in a report and a new framework agreement (WP1)
Development and testing of a course in community work/community development (WP2)
Developing Virtual learning material for the CW course (WP3)
Increased competences of teachers and technical staff, by cooperating in curriculum development/testing and in producing e-learning materials (WP3)
A project management able to monitor the project (WP4)
Quality Assurance Guide (WP6)
Exploitation and dissemination of products and results (WP5 and 7)

8. WP1 Aims and achievements
A report on the IS for SW in a Virtual Campus setting, consisting of a SWOT analysis for this specialisation in the different parnter countries and conlclusions/suggestions how to proceed taking into account the national and international regulations
A Framework agreement between the project partners
A surveys/interviews among the partners. Results presented and analysed in a report: From VIRCLASS to VirCamp.
A framework agreement:
New Consortium Agreement

9. WP2 Aims and achievements
Curriculum Plan for Community work as a pilot for the IS (15 credits)
Pilot course executed (55 students, 5 teachers)
Pilot evaluation report
CP is made – competence based
Pilot course is arranged with 51 students started and 22 took exams
Data for the evaluation report has been collected throughout the process and the report is in progress

10. Competences in the SW-VirCamp Community Work course
Methods and Theories
Students will be able to describe, analyze, demonstrate how to use, and compare CW theories and methods
Cooperation
Students will be able to demonstrate how to create a professional network to work collaboratively in CW
Students are able to give and share information about their own community
Students are able to work together with students and teachers from other countries in the virtual campus and take an active part in developing and evaluating the learning programme
Professional Development
Students are able to reflect on own personal and professional development from the start of the course and formulate personal strengths and learning objectives for CW
Students are able to critically reflect on the relevance of CW in society

11. Task-centred approach and portfolio assessment
Gives a steady learning throughout the course
- not only an intensive reading period before the final exam
“ Even though it was theoretical, I really appreciated the way this e-learning course was. Especially with the weekly task, so we had the opportunity to learn step by step, what we don't usually have in normal programs. Also, because we learned so much in between, we could compare the theories with the practical life around us. (regarding communities)”

12. The students at the beginning and the end of the course spring 2010
51 students started
22 students from 9 countries and 10 HEI took exam all passed.
2 students applyed for a delay.
1 student deliver her assignment in September
Age between years
BA students and professional social workers
Most female students

13. What did we achieve?
Developed a transparent virtual classroom exploring different ICT tools for communication among students and teachers
It’s learning - LMS
Syncronic Chat
Skype - roleplaying
Asyncronic Theme discussions
Google.docs
Blog for students
Reflection blog for teachers
E-Portfolio
VITERO conference room for teacher meetings and project meetings

14. ICT SKILLS The ICT skills are useful for Social Work
”To be able to reach people that I normally don`t reach. For example people with disorders that make them afraid to leave their home, I can discuss on line and reach them that way”

15. Learning material that trigger curiosity

16. Short screen lectures 10 -15 minutes
A lecture about project work

17. Triggers Userparticipation is important in CW
Please watch the presentation and explain what you feel when you see the pictures

18. The Green Park Community Blog
Mapping the Green Park Community
Visit the Green Park community. 
Become acquainted with the people
living here. Make a note about what
you can see/observe: What catches
your attention, describe what you see
and make an analyzis of this.

19. The CW Case
Present your impressions from the Green Park to the group of students. What are the situations addressed here? What are the issues for people using the park? Come to an agreement with your group about the subject you want to work further on with in your project.

20. How to develop skills in public writing
Write an article together with one other student, about your job as community worker and the project you are going to work with. This is not going to be a scientific article, but an article where you present your work for the Green Park Community. You can include illustrations in the article.
Present the article in the electronic EUROPE MAGAZINE.

21. Students experiences of increased competences
I feel I've learned a lot about community work and how to do community work. The virtual community helped to get a sense of working as a community worker. Still I think that the way to gain real professional development is to go out into the real world and practice what I've learned there. Only then will I get real feedback to continue the work on. But I feel more secure to go out there and try it out now since I've developed some tools to do community work.
During the course we were confronted with many theories. It was a challenge to get to know them and put them to practice. Doing this I have gained more skills in cooporating and a better insight in Methods. Putting this to practice I have been able to work on my professional development.

22. Students experiences of increased competences
My knowledge of Community Work was little before the course, and it has grown a lot, with different theories and views from the literature. Cooperation in an international context was not new for me, and it didn't change much. The big difference was working from behind a screen instead of face to face. I definitely prefer face to face because communication goes much quicker.
As for professional development I especially learned to be more patient and accept that working in an international context is much more difficult and slow. The things I will use most out of this course is thinking bottom-up and using an appreciative approach

23. Students experiences of increased competences
The course has helped me develop my leading skills. I was the ('unofficial') leader of the group, a role I don't normally take. I liked this role and I feel I have grown in it.
It was a nice and good investment to work in this project. Sometimes tough but quite instructive.

24. Weekly programmes and bulletin board

25. Development of virtual learning material Aims and achievements (WP3)
3. Increased competences of teaching and technical staff, by cooperating in curriculum development/testing and in producing e-learning materials
Expected outcomes:
A one week media course for production of virtual learning material at partner institutions
6 screen lectures
10 triggers
1 case
Competences in developing a competence based CP
Increased competences in e-pedagogy through practice in the CW module
Increased competences in developing triggers and screen lectures and a virtual case for CW, through arranging a media course in March 2009 at the Media Centre at HiB
Produced a Virtual Book:
9 screen lectures
9 triggers + 1 triggers for the Virtual Case (the Gardeners speech
1 CW case – the Green Park community blog

26. Staff involved in the production
12 teachers from 8 countries/institutions developed screen lectures
14 staff members from 7 countries/institutions developed triggers
13 staff members from 8 institutions participated in developing the concept for the community case during the workshop in Patones, Spain

27. Virtual Learning Material – The Virtual Book

28. WP4 Aims and achievement
ACHIEVEMENTS
Consortium Contract√√
Working Plan
Project budget
Annual project reports
Meetings, seminars, conferences
Financial/administrative model for a sustainable Virtual Campus √

29. Administration of the project (WP4)

30. Project achievements (Wp4): Administration
An updated and active website,
Consortium Agreement
A yearly budget
A project plan/timeschedule
Resourceplan
Amendments of budget and resourceplans
Regularly Steering Group meetings
Regularly Teacher meetings
All planned meetings arranged
Additional meetings added to the plan
Contact and meetings with the EACEA administration
Progress report and public report

31. Aims and achievements: Exploitation (WP5)
Website – logo, graphic design, power point standard
Virtual Campus web portal
Promotional material:
Poster for conferences/HEI +
Mini-flyer for conferences/HEI +
Pamphlet: benefits for all stakeholders
Posterfolder about the CW pilot
Pamphlet: VirCamp Course content
Promotional video
Reports:
Benefit for BA students (J.Peter)
Benefit for the HEI (J.Agten)
Benefit for the professional field (L. Ulmane-Ozolina
Information to stakeholders through data collection:
Interviews with the field of social work
Presentation of the project at partner Universities
Different fora
To different stakeholders
Following the strategic plans
Promote of a Virtual Campus for international social work students and
Raise awareness of the importance of a Virtual Campus for international learning environment” the main focus was to develop material for promotion, exploitation and dissemination.

32. Aims and objectives WP6 – what did we achieve
Assure the quality of a Virtual Campus by:
a quality guide
Internal quality report series
Assessment of the cw pilot
Programme evaluation by an external evaluator
A Quality Guide for a Virtual Campus + annexes for routines
Survey instruments developed for evaluation of the progress of the project
Partner survey
Teacher interviews
Students surveys
Meeting surveys for the evaluation of meetings and the process during the project
Assessment of the CW pilot – a report with didactical recommendations
External evaluation report
Interviewing partners and students in the project
Access to the CW course
Access to website material

33. Aims and objectives WP 7 – what did we achieve?
Dissemination
Promote and create public awareness in a planned way about project results at:
Conferences
Articles in relevant journals
Magazines
Within partner countries, networks including both educational institutions as well as professional sector
Made a plan for dissemination
Presented the project at conferences
5 national conferences
8 international conferences
1 national ICT conference
3 presentations at international ICT conferences
16+ presentations at HEI and professional bodies
2 scientific papers sent to publication
2 scientific papers under production

34. Meetings Communication tools: E-mails Phone calls VITERO conferences
17 Steering Committee meetings
Mannheim February 2009
Mannheim June 2009
Haarlem November 2009
Lisbon June 2010
6 Partner meetings (CMG)
Bergen November 2008
Liepaja September 2010
7 Teacher meetings (WP2)
Jønkøping February 2009
Liepaja, Sept 2010
6 WP3 meetings
Bergen, March 2009
Madrid, May 2009
1 WP5 meeting
2 WP1 meeting in Madrid
1 WP6 meeting
Communication tools: s
Phone calls
VITERO conferences
Google.docs
Teacher blog
Web site
Face-to-Face meetings hosted by different partners

35. What makes the project sustainable
An administrative and financial model for the future Consortium
Signing a new Consortium Agreement for a sustainable organisation
Incorporation of the international online courses as optional courses in the regular curriculum plans at partner institutions
SW-VirCamp incorporating the VIRCLASS courses in it’s course portfolio
Adjusting the three modules to the new structure and time schedule
Administration of the SW-VirCamp web portal becoming an important webpage for the IS/in-depth international programme
A guality guide that secure the procedures for keeping a high standard of the Virtual Campus andthe courses
New contract with teachers involved in the educational programme
Clarification of the administrative institution
Clarification of workshare
Clarifications of fundings

36. Things to be done
Mapping the possibilities for study abroad among partners:
Courses in English/or courses open for students from neighbour countries
Mapping the possibilities for practice placements among partners
Creating a ”bank” with exchange courses (campus courses) and practice places
Developing the webportal for the Virtual Campus
Developing new visions and aims for future cooperation and development of the Virtual Campus

37. Partner Institutions VIRCLASS (V)/SW-VirCamp (SW)
1. Bergen University College. Norway. (V/SW)
2. INHOLLAND University. Haarlem, the Netherlands. (V/SW)
3. University of Complutense, Madrid, Spain. (V/SW)
4. School of Health Sciences,Jønkøping University, Sweden. (V/SW)
5. Miguel Torga University College, Coimbra, Portugal. (V/SW)
6. Hochschule Mannheim, Germany. (V/SW)
7. Swansea University, Wales, UK. (SW)
8. Hochschule Mittweida, Germany. (SW)
9. Liepajas Universitate, Latvia. (SW)
10. Bodø University College, Norway. (SW)
11. Lusofona University, Lisboa, Portugal. (V/SW)
12. KHKempen University College, Geel, Belgium. (V/SW)