1. PROJECT SUMMARY VO@NET Project Virtual Open-Access Network for Education and Training - Enhancing Interconnectivity between European and Asian Universities References: 1.Dirckinck-Holmfeld, L & Fibiger, B (2002): Learning in Virtual Environments, Samfundslitteratur. 2.Ryberg, T (2003) : Informations- og kommunikationsteknologi i gymnasiet – set i et læringsperspektiv. Abstract available at www.impact.aau.dk/theses.html Establishment of institutional and administrative framework to ensure the sustainability of the virtual network and reinforce the existing network creating 1 To design and implement an open-access Web-based Education and Networking service (WEN) to enhance the interconnectivity of the existing network 3 To test the virtual network through development of educational curricula, the design of online courses and running of those courses 4 Project summary Four objectives OBJECTIVES EUROPEAN COMMISION From concepts and thoughts to practical construction of e-courses Establishment of virtual learning laboratories As an activity of the VO@NET-project virtual learning laboratories in the shape of a learning management systems (LMS) have been established locally at each partner university. The LMS serves as a platform for each university’s production and running of e-learning courses and as an experimental playground. The platform used is Moodle which is an Open Source System (OSS). Moodle is a stable, solidly tested, cross-browser environment requiring only a minimum of bandwidth. In 5 different Moodle environments e-courses have been running from November 2004 to May 2005 with great success. If you have any questions regarding the VO@NET or the activities of E-Learning Lab – Please do not hestitate to contact us here at the conference or later. Thomas Ryberg Ph.D. Candidate Aalborg University Department of Communication Mail: ryberg@hum.aau.dk Tel.: +45 9635 7400 Brian Moeller Svendsen Research Assistant Aalborg University Department of Communication Mail: brianms@hum.aau.dk Tel.: +45 9635 7401 Lone Dirckinck-Holmfeld Research professor Aalborg University Department of Communication Mail: lone@hum.aau.dk Tel.: +45 9635 9020 DUCED-IU&ATUCED-IU&AMUCED-IU&A E-learning lab Participating universities: Thailand (TUCED-IU&A): Chiang Mai University, Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, The Prince of Songkhla University Denmark (DUCED-IU&A): DTU (Technical University of Denmark), Aalborg University, Copenhagen Business School, Roskilde University, Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture Malaysia (MUCED IU&A): Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kabangsaan, ersiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Spain: Universitat de Barcelona Representatives of E-Learning Lab: Links: TUCED-IU&A: www.tuced-iua.in.th || DUCED-IU&A: www.duced-iua.dk || MUCED-IU&A: www.muced.um.edu.my || E-learning Lab: www.ell.aau.dk To establish a conceptual pedagogic framework to identify key educational and cultural approaches for a successful implementation of a virtual network 2 In March 2004 the Moodle systems were installed at the local universities and workshops on the pedagogical and technical use of the systems were initiated. These workshop encompassed both face-to-face workshops and online collaboration on the construction of the courses. The pedagogical concepts and the design have revolved around creating courses firmly ground in student-centred and collaborative approaches. Throughout the project people from E-learning Lab have been functioning as resource persons for the IT-pedagogical dimensions of development and design of the e-courses. Through online and face-to-face workshops all partners have engaged in a joint enterprise to develop new knowledge on online pedagogical concepts and tools, through the practical construction of and experiments with e-courses in the Moodle systems. To the right you can see a screen dump of one of the courses developed during the project; Green Productivity for Industry. During November 2004 to May 2005 more than 10 courses have successfully been launched and provided for the students at the partner universities. Some courses have been targeted at an international group of students and professionals others have functioned as an initial local test-bench before bringing the course to an international group of students. With time it is the hope that these courses will be offered on a larger scale so Asian and international students will gain access to high-quality open distance education strongly grounded in collaborative pedagogy. Collaborative course construction and development of approaches Bringing e-courses to Asian and international students The VO@NET project aims to establish a virtual network to advance information exchange, increase communications, improve networking and develop joint courses and curricula through the introduction of new technologies to existing networks in Asia and Europe. The project targets higher education students and academics within the areas of environment and development at universities in Malaysia, Thailand, Spain and Denmark. To strengthen electronic interconnectivity between the consortium universities' existing network, through the establishment of a virtual network. Thereby, enhancing network building, joint course development, communication and information exchange for higher education. The overall objective will be achieved by structuring the project into 4 sub-objectives, which aim to define, establish and test the virtual network. The 4 sub objectives are described in detail below: