VIRCLASS The Virtual Classroom for Social Work in EuropePresentation at

EUSW 2nd Annual Meeting in Olsztyn19-21 October 2006 Anne Karin LarsenBergen University College

About the presentation

Short history Visions, objectives and elements Curriculum development Development of digital competences What it means to be an e-learning student New learning material: The Virtual Book – A

guide to social work in Europe A video case production

The idea startet

In the first annual meeting in EUSW-TN in Parma november 2002

the idea about e-learning courses in

addition to the summer school in Parma started

Several meetings have been held In Kaunas – May 2003 In Dornbirn – annual meeting

EUSW - June 2003 In Madrid - November 2003 In Parma – February 2004 In Hungary, annual meeting

EUSW – MAy 2004 In Bergen October 2004 In Jønkøping February 2005 In Amsterdam Sept. 2005 In Bergen February and June 2006 In Dornbirn March 2006 In Madrid September 2006 In Bergen November 2006

Visions

To integrate the VirClass e-learning study Social Work in Europe as an optional course in ordinary Social Work programmes for BA students at the Universities in Europe

To develop an international BA in Comparative Social Work including the VirClass courses.

OBJECTIVES for VIRCLASS To develop eLearning courses in Social Work in a

comparative perspective for an international group of students with an

International group of teachers A common curriculum plan and readings International e-learning courses presented as

optional courses in the curriculum plans for Social Work educations in Europe.

Courses of interests also for professional social workers who wish an international perspective on social work

The elements in the project

Production of e-learning courses in SW Curriculum development Administration, organisation and coordination Development of a virtual campus for social

work in Europe Creation of Virtual Learning Materials Dissemination of research and results at

conferences, journals and books

The VirClass project financial supportApplications not approved: MINERVA 2004 ELearning 2005

Budget 2003-2006: 1,7 million NOK (206000 EURO)

Applications approvedFinanced by Norwegian state

foundation.Norway Opening University SOFF/NUV 2004-05 NUV 2006-07 Bergen University College Support for meetings and

travel costs from partner institutions and EUSW

Invested working time from partners

About the content in the e-learning courses Pilot course in spring 2005 New courses from October 2006 – May 2007

Structure of the two e-learning modules

Modules and themes

2-modules Module 1: Social Work in Europe. Commonalities

and Differences Module 2: Comparative Social Work. European

Perspective on Core aspect of Social Work 2A: Discrimination, Oppression and Ethnic

diverstiy as phenomenon in Europe. Antioppressive approaches to Social work

2B: Poverty and Welfare systems in Europe. Anti oppressive approaches to Social Work 2C: Social Work Theories and Methods in Context

In 2005

62 students from 16 European countriesparticipated in the programme

Picture from the Summer School in Parma 2005

Students voice

Before starting this course I had a strong provision that distance learning is not suitable for social work studies. I was definitely wrong. Modern technologies provide us with possibilities to communicate in a different way, which also widen our view on a field of social work

The Pedagogy in the course

E-learning pedagogy a new teaching method 5 principles of teaching and learning

Create a virtual learning environment where students feel inspired, safe and confident

Problem based/task oriented way of learning Stimulating cooperation, interaction and dialogue Self-reflection on learning Evidence based writing

IT:s LEARNING –A Learning Management System A password protected classroom Gives students and teachers different access

and options Settle ethical standards for communication in

the classroom

New Learning Materials – development of VIRTUAL BOOK Why?

To create reuseable learning resources possible to use in other Learning Management Systems (LMS)

Visual atractive elements – more interactive Make the classroom more attractive and

inspirering for students Make use of both words, sound and video Reduce the preparation work for teachers

Content in the Virtual Book

Screen lectures Short 15 minutes presentation of lectures for the

courses Triggers

Audiovisual elements (pictures, soundtrack, animations) to start discussions about social work

Video Case. Mrs K. and her Family 12 scenes that will be presented as part of the

study programme in module 2

Students entrance to the course and the book www.virclass.net/student

From the studio recording of the

Video Case

Mrs. K and her Family

Partners in the project

13 partners are involved in the Virclass project: Bergen University College University of Wales, Swansea School of Health Sciences, Jønkøping University, Sweden University of Complutense, Madrid, Spain Instituto Superior Miquel Torga, Coimbra, Portugal University of Warma-Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland University of Applied Sciences Vorarlberg, Austria University of Applied Sciences Mannheim, Germany University INHOLLAND, Haarlem, Nederlands University of Kaunas, Lithuania University of Parma, Italy Bodø University College, Norway City of Bergen, Bergen, Norway