Intercultural exchange while staying in the classroom: the VMCOLAB project

vmcolab.euPresenter Name Event Name

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Intercultural exchange while staying in the classroom: the VMCOLAB project

Bas Bergervoet, KU Leuven | 13/02/2014 Unicollaboration conference, Léon (Spain)

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VMCOLAB‘European Co-Laboratory for the Integration of Virtual Mobility in Higher Education Innovation and Modernisation Strategies’

Duration: 1 October 2012 – 30 September 2014

Partners:• KU Leuven (BE)• SCIENTER (IT)• EFQUEL (BE)• Coimbra Group (BE)• University of Porto (PT)

Vytautas Magnus University (LT)University of Granada (ES)University of Padova (IT)United Nations University (DE)University Politehnica of Bucharest (RO)

Funded by the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme

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Project aims

“contribute to the innovation and internationalisation of European Higher

Education Institutions by exploiting the full potential of ICT and Virtual Mobility and

broadening the access to an international learning experience for all European students”

“develop support materials and services for those wanting to engage in virtual mobility

experiences”

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Objectives/Results• Quality Assurance handbook for Virtual

Mobility• A Virtual Mobility Integration Kit• Institutional Awareness Seminars• A Students’ Guide to Virtual Mobility• ‘Virtual4Me’ website: virtual4me.vmcolab.eu • Policy recommendations & policy event

• And….. Pilots!

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Pilots

• Pilot on Open Educational Resources, led by Vytautas Magnus University

• Pilot on Water Management, led by KU Leuven

• Pilot on Career Service Staff Training, led by University of Padova

--> Piloting guidelines & training course

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VM definition in VMCOLAB

 “set of information and

communications technology supported activities, organized at institutional level, that realize or facilitate international, collaborative experiences in a context of teaching and/or learning”

European Commission Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing "ERASMUS FOR ALL". The Union Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport (2011). Brussels. Accessed on April 10, 2013 at http://ec.europa.eu/education/erasmus-for-all/doc/legal_en.pdf

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Different kinds of VM

• TVM = Teacher Virtual Mobility• SVM = Student Virtual Mobility• TVM + SVM

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OER PilotOnline course with ECTS

(nov/dec 2013)

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Pilot participantsFrom the consortium• Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania (coordination, 3 teachers + 1 moderator)• University of Granada, Spain (3 teachers)• EFQUEL, Belgium (2 teachers)

Co-organiser from outside the consortium• University of Pavia, Italy (1 teacher)• University of Jyvaskyla, Finland (1 teacher)

18 participants/learners• University of Granada, Spain - 3• University of Porto, Portugal - 3• Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania - 6 (incl. 2 Erasmus students)• University of Pavia, Italy - 3• University of Florence, Italy - 2• Trento University, Italy – 1 (Chinese exchange student)

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Methodology• Focused topic/short time• Trusted network• International comparative approach• Selected/motivated students• Tools used for high engagement level• Pedagogy: high level of interaction/action• Learner centered• No final exam

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Learning outcomes

After the pilot, participants will be able to:

1.define OER, list their categories and compare types and models of OER

2.characterize the quality and explain the purpose of use of selected OER

3.analyze issues of OER development and use in education, and categorize issues and challenges of OER development and use in education

4.design use or reuse of OER and construct next steps in OER development

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Pilot scope and mode

Week 1 Introduction to pilot – 1 hour

1 hour theoretical presentation on LO1 by HEI1(Adobe Connect)

Task No1 given for international learner groups (Moodle)

International collaborative group work upon a task No1(facilitation by HEI1)

Week 2 International learner group presentation of collaborative results – 1 hour(Adobe Connect)

1 hour theoretical presentation on LO2 by HEI2(Adobe Connect)

Task No2 given for international learner groups (Moodle)

International collaborative group work upon a task N2

Week …4 International learner group presentation of collaborative results – 1 hour(Adobe Connect)

Feedback and evaluation.

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Outcomes• 3 ECTS for free credits • @www.teacamp.eu/moodle2 • Learning outcomes• Experience and lessons learnt • Certificates (for participants and

teachers)• Feedback• Testimonials (2 videos)

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VM in action

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VM in action

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Water Management Pilot

International exchange integrated in existing MA-level courses

(planning phase)

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Pilot participants

• KU Leuven, Belgium (coordination): – Prof. Patrick Willems

• University of Granada, Spain– Prof. Elena Sánchez– Prof. Francisco J. Rueda

• University of Porto, Portugal – Prof. Francisco Taveira Pinto

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VM in action

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VM Integration

• Sustainable integration of VM in existing courses– Exchanging ‘modules’ and course materials– International online group work (comparative

approach)– MA Thesis creation/supervision

• Planning– Preparation since January 2014– Start in 1st semester of academic year 2014-15

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Career Service Pilot

Virtual staff exchange for university career services staff

(planning phase)

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Pilot participantsFrom the consortium• University of Padova, Italy (coordination)• University of Granada, Spain• University of Porto, Portugal• Coimbra Group, Belgium

Co-organiser from outside the consortium• University of Iasi, Romania

Participating career services• Université de Genève, Switzerland• University of Bologna, Italy• Aarhus University, Denmark• National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland• Jagiellonian University, Poland

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Virtual staff exchange

• Exchanging good practices from all over Europe– Career services policies in times of financial/economic crisis– Required career skills– Employability

• Developing intercultural awareness/competences • Improving English language skills• Format:

– Prior consultation of online learning materials (reading, multimedia)– Expert introduction to a theme– Faciliator-led discussion (Prof. Francesca Helm)

• 8 x 1,5h sessions via video conferencing• Asynchronous communication via Moodle/e-mail• Planning: spring/summer 2014

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More information?

VMCOLAB project websitewww.vmcolab.eu

Virtual4Me website (for students)virtual4me.vmcolab.eu

or send an [email protected]