Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College 1 E-learning a way of teaching and learning social work in a changing Europe? Presentation of the VIRCLASS project Madrid 20.September 2006

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College2 Changes in Higher Education all over Europe  Bologna Declaration  Lisbon Agenda  Information and Communication Technologies in Education  New knowledge of Learning (  Socio-cultural learning theories)

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College3 More Challenges This co-incidence with changes in workforce: Life-Long Learning Vocational Education and Training Trans-European work market All this together  : great demands for optimal flexibility in all learning arenas!

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College4 Bologna Declaration: Goals 3 +2 Bachelor & Master Programmes Common system for marks  graded A-F Introduction of European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) Student (and teachers mobility over national boarders)

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College5 Lisboan Convention Learning Economy a central agent for change in Europe  influencing both the HEI and the Work Life Training in Europe Focusing at Life Long Learning (LLL) -and Open Distance Learning (ODL)

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College6 VIRCLASS a result of international co operation The Virtual Classroom for social work in Europe is one of several project that was developed due to the start of EUSW-TN in 2002 in Parma, Italy

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College7 The idea started…. Could e-learning courses be a forrunner for Summer School in Parma? Would it be possible to offer students an additional option of study by starting e-learning courses?

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College8 At first there was a plan for summer school in Parma The Virclass project was established i 2003 Applications for grants from the Norway Opening University was approved in 2004 Bergen University College have contributet to the funding of the project Other international institutions have contributed with labour force and time for development.

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College9 The Working group for ”school development” became the VIRCLASS group

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College10 Objectives for the Virclass project To develop e-learning courses in social work with a comparative perspective With an international group of students An international group of teachers Based on a common curriculum plan To be implemented as part of the curriculum plan in BA or MA- programmes in social work studies in Europe To be of interests for professional social workers who want an international perspective on social work

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College11 The inovative aspect International co operation before VIRCLASS:  Student exchange  Teacher exchange  Intensive Courses  Nettwork meetings International co operation after VIRCLASS  A Virtual Classroom for Social Work in Europe  Increase of digital competence both by teachers and students  Develop skills in e-learning pedagogy  And the running of e-learning courses by the use of LMS (learning management systems)

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College12 Project elements Administration and co ordination Curriculum development by co operation Developing a Virtual Campus for courses in social work with a European comparative perspective Development of new digital learning materials – the Virtual Book for Social Work in Europe Research on learning in e-learning Dissemination of results Develop a model for administration and finance for international e- learning courses Develop a model for didactical approaches to international e- learning courses

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College13 The educational programme The educational programme for 2006/07 consists of 2 modules. Module 1: Social Work in Europe (5 ECTS credits) An introduction to comparative social work on a European level Module 2: Comparative social work (10 ECTS credits)  Discrimination, Opression, Ethnic diversity  Powerty and Welfare systems  Social work theories, methods, skill training in Context

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College14 The overall concept of learning Constructivist and socio-cultural knowledge and understanding Task-oriented and problem-solving methods Learner-centred curriculum – students are activated, responsible for their own learning Competence based curriculum plan Academic and evidence based writing Self-reflection on learning

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College15 Theoretical perspectives Anti-Opressive and antidiscriminatory practice Critical theory Social constructivism

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College16 Assignments, grades and certificates Every module ends with a written individual assignment Graded by the scale A-F Earning ECTS credits Assessors from different countries  2 assessors for each assignment Certificate signed by Bergen University College

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College17 Target groups Students:  BA/Diplom; (MA) professional social workers Partners  Universities and University colleges with educational programmes for social work in Europe

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College18 The students in students from 20 countries applied Age: years Majority under 25 years of age Students came from: Great Britain, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Macedonia, Turkey, Finland, Iceland, Slovenia and Austria.

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College19 Educational background for students in the different modules ModuleBA/DIPLMA/PHDSocial Workers Number of students Module 1 elearning 53%40%15%*32 stud. (100%) Module 2 elearning 32%52%20%25stud. Module 3 67%17%16%34stud.

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College20 Can social work be learned sitting by a computer chatting with other students? Some scepticism arouse This is only suitable for students with good computer skills and with good access to computers. The east-European students might have problems by joining this.

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College21 What happened? 99 % of the students had never been e-learning students before They had average computerskills A lot of East- European students applied for the courses Many students had limited access to computers / did not have computer at home, but had to use the computers at the Universities The tutorials for helping students to get familiar with the Virtual Classroom was functioning very well Students were satisfied with the support from teachers

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College22 One of the students summerized her experience this way.. “……I will describe this E-learning process as very precious to me. My colleagues from Lithuania and Sweden brought their system of studying and the profession of social worker in their countries closer to me. But the most important thing is that now, I am more interested in social work than ever. My mind was functioning in a different way these past 7 weeks. I learned the importance of the research work and I felt that everyday I wanted to learn more by going deeper and deeper into the research. I honestly expected to find many more differences between these three countries, but I saw that many of the differences have been overcome in the past ten years. Now, I am sure that our country is successfully handling the changes, trends and demands for better education and professionalisation for social workers.”

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College23 Communication in an international classroom The e-learning students co operated from day one with students and teachers from other part of Europe by the use of internet and by being in the same virtual classroom.

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College24 It:s learning – a LMS system Learning Management System Offers a platform for learning Bulletin board Tutorials Elements for learning  Tasks/assignments  Pictures  Video  Respons to assignments  Discusion area  Presentation and delivery of final assignments  Portfolio exam

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College25 How to use video triggers as part of the educational programme Questions to students: What is your interpretation of the situation to this woman? What kind of intervention(s) would you suggest? Where will she go for help in your country? What will be the role of the social worker?

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College26 Welfare Systems Using pictures as triggers for discussions

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College27 What we experienced  Knowledge about students  Knowledge about administrative arrangements and rules in different countries  Knowledge about common assessments  Knowledge about social work in Europe  Knowledge about what a virtual campus can offer  Knowledge about the workload  And a lot more…..

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College28 In the project plan for 2006/07 Development of a new administrative and financial model for running international e-learning courses Adjustments of the curriculum plan and modules  VIRCLASS will develop and run e-learning courses Development of a didactical model and a Virtual Book for social work in Europe Forward the work for incorporation of VIRCLASS courses in the curriculum plans for social work studies in Europe Increase the flexibility for students By creating reusable learning material make it possible to use different LMS systems for running the courses Research on aspects of learning in an international e-learning campus

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College29 Web-addresses

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College30 VIRCLASS partners Parma Universitet,ItaliaNew Partners from 2005 Høgskolen i Jønkøping,Sverige Institutt Miguel Torga, PortugalINHOLLAND universitet, Haarlem, Nederland Complutense University, Madrid, SpaniaUniversitetet i Warmia og Mazury, Polen Universitetet i Wales,Swansea Høgskolen i Bodø Universitetet Vytautas Magnus, LitauenFachhochschule Vorarlberg, Østerrike Fachhochschule Mannheim, Tyskland City of Bergen Bergen University College (HiB) Media Centre (HiB)

Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College31 Presentation by Assistant professor Anne Karin Larsen Bergen University College Haugeveien 28, 5005 Bergen, Norway phone: