1. Associate professor Anne Karin Larsen. Bergen University College
Social Work in the High North Reykjavik-Conferense 14th – 16 August 2011
Invitation to discuss collaboration between the the Artic network and SW-VirCamp
Associate professor Anne Karin Larsen.
Bergen University College

2. Content What can SW-VirCamp offer?
What are the conditions for partnership in the Consortium?
How can we collaborate?

3. The aims of SW-VirCamp
To facilitate all the functions needed for an up-to-date virtual campus,
Including high quality elearning courses
High quality virtual learning material
Promoting possibilities for study abroad and practice abroad
Research on learning and social work issues
Good administration and access to relevant web sources to facilitate effective online learning

4. SW-VirCamp – what can we offer at the moment
3 online modules in Comparative Social Work for BA students (and MA)
Social Work in Europe Commonalities and Differences (5 credits)
Comparative Social Work – Core issues in social work in an anti-oppressive perspective (10x3 credits)
Community Work from an international perspective (15 credits)

5. Course in e-pedagogy
A 10 credits course in E-pedagogy for teachers in Higher Education.
To develop the competenses for e-teaching at the partner institutions

6. Learning material
3 Virtual Books with learning material for the online courses including
Screen lectures
Triggers
Virtual cases

7. The Virtual Book – Community Work from an International Perspective

8. Our Pedagogy for the online courses
Competence based curriculum plans
A task centred approach to learning
Student active learning
Learning by doing and problem solving
Learning by comparative work
Learning by reflection
Academic writing

9. Experiences with the online course
Students fullfilling the courses are very satisfied
Students and teachers learn a lot
Students learn to relate theories to practice
The academic staff are competent online teachers from different countries

10. Important success factors for the SW-VirCamp Consortium
That students can integrate the online courses in their ordinary CP in a good way
That teachers are trained and skilled in online coaching and supervision and development of online courses
A sustainable partnership with persons that do their job in time and are highly committed to the work in VirCamp
Flexibility and ability to change and develop new ideas
A strong and entusiastic leadership
Institutions that see the value of developing the international perspectives and the digital competenses among students and teachers

11. What are the conditions for partnership?
An institutional fee for administration of the Consortium: approximately Euro per year (depending on the number of partners).
Developing the e-pedagogical competenses of the academic staff
Offering teachers and assessors for the online courses
Online study places for students from your institution (approx students per course)

12. Future ideas for developing the Virtual Campus
To be able to offer BA students in-depth studies in comparative international social work
To extend the Virtual Campus to other disiplines like Education and Health study programmes
Developing interprofessional modules
Developing a module in online help service
To increase the number of partners
To apply for new EU funding for developing these ideas

13. Future collaboration?
How does these ideas match with your plans for the Artic network?
What are you interested in developing in relation to your own students and curriculum plans?
What can the SW-VirCamp Consortium contribute with and how can the material already developed be useful?
How much are your institutions willing and interested to contribute and invest in this?
Will online international courses be of interest to your students?

14. For more information go to: http://www.vircamp.net