Virtual mobility: an alternative for or a complement to physical mobility?
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This document discusses virtual mobility as an alternative or complement to physical student mobility. It defines virtual mobility as technology-supported international collaborative learning experiences. Virtual mobility can support physical exchanges through online orientation, language learning, and alumni networks. It can also internationalize courses through virtual internships, joint projects, and blended learning. Successful implementation requires consideration of technology, pedagogy, and organization. Virtual mobility is not a replacement for physical mobility but offers new ways to experience international learning.
Virtual mobility: an alternative for or a complement to physical mobility?
- 1. VIRTUAL MOBILITY: AN ALTERNATIVE FOR OR A COMPLEMENT TO PHYSICAL MOBILITY? Ilse Op de Beeck Leuven Institute for Media and Learning – KU Leuven 30 June 2014 | 14e Frans-Nederlandse Ontmoetingsdagen Lille, France
- 2. Context and definitions ‘Student mobility is an important aspect of internationalization … but it is impossible to realize physical exchange for the majority of students’
- 3. Context and definitions ‘‘Virtual mobility is the 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”
- 4. Videoconferencing Webconferencing Weblectures Streaming Audio/Video Social Media (Web2.0) Screencasting/screensharing Podcasting … ICT supported activities
- 5. Context of teaching and learning Virtual mobility is about teaching and learning (pedagogical aspect) and all the activities that support it, e.g. administrative, organisational, logistical issues.
- 6. International Virtual mobility is specifically about cross-border activities between different educational institutions from different countries. Such activities are subsequently intercultural in nature.
- 7. Collaborative Virtual mobility activities enable collaborative learning, i.e. learning from and with each other. This aspect of virtual mobility is considered to be essential in relation to developing intercultural competences and/or sensitivity.
- 8. Virtual mobility • to facilitate or realise an international exchange • to facilitate or realise international internships • as a scenario to internationalise a (part of a) course (chapter, exercise, task, project), programme, workshop, seminar,… scale from blended to fully virtual student and teacher virtual mobility Types of virtual mobility
- 9. Projects on virtual and blended mobility - Lifelong Learning Programme - EC
- 10. VM-BASE: Virtual Mobility Before and After Student Exchanges Socrates – Minerva project, October 2006 - September 2008 Move-IT: Seminars promoting Virtual Support for Mobile Students LLP project, November 2009 – December 2010 • To raise the quality of student exchanges by offering virtual support, both before, during and after the physical mobility • Supporting teachers in coaching exchange students at a distance ICT as a support for physical mobility
- 11. Before the exchange • Orientation modules • Preparatory courses (language, culture, digital literacy) • Pre-selection tools, student selection During the exchange • E-coaching • Communication, support, social networks After the exchange • Virtual assessment and evaluation at a distance • Virtual alumni ICT as a support for physical mobility
- 12. Online Testing and Learning Platform for international students enrolled for the Master - access to platform before the students come to Leuven Master in Physiotherapy, KU Leuven ICT as a support for physical mobility
- 13. Aim: equalise the initial level of the knowledge of statistics of the (international) students of the Master • Successful pre-tests allow full participation • Unsuccessful pre-tests give access to online learning modules from the KU Leuven Bachelor degree, followed by new pre-tests • Expectations for students are more transparent ICT as a support for physical mobility
- 14. Master European Social Security (Faculteit Rechten), KU Leuven • One-year international study programme in English • Blends regular with distance learning • Need for oral examination at a distance • Set-up of e-assessment through webconferencing ICT as a support for physical mobility
- 15. Set up of pilot • Webconferencing through FlashMeeting/Adobe Connect • Laptop and webcam on both sides • Support staff - Booking of meeting + manual for students - Students receive link to meeting through e-mail - Online examination + recording Reactions… • Quality similar to face-to-face • Recordings are added value • Time consuming • Connectivity, crucial for timing ICT as a support for physical mobility
- 16. EU-VIP: Enterprise-University Virtual Placements LLP project, October 2009 – September 2011 PROVIP: Promoting Virtual Mobility in Placements LLP project, October 2012 – September 2014 • Virtual mobility to enhance international work placements • Development of framework, implement, test, evaluate and improve via 19 pilot projects • Identification of critical success factors • Development platform Virtual internships
- 18. • University of Turku (FI) • October 2010 – February 2011 • Master in Political Sciences • Turku and Southwest Finland European office (BE) • Student selection via Skype • Tasks: following EU news, compiling news for Finnish region, following online meetings of EC,… • Communication, cooperation and feedback via Skype and Adobe Connect • Academic mentor @ home Virtual internships
- 19. • Katholieke Hogeschool Leuven (BE) • February-June 2010 • Bachelor in Business Management • Compulsory internship • 11 students in foreign companies • Participation in seminars via videoconferencing • Share/exchange experiences with peers at home • Self reflection and mentoring via e-portfolio • Internationalisation @ home Virtual internships
- 20. A tool for supporting and facilitating international internships at-a-distance Virtual internships: Pathway http://pathway.sekoialearn.com
- 21. Virtual internships: Pathway • Supports matchmaking between students and companies • Supports the creation of an internship charter • Enables a close follow-up of interns from a distance • Supports online communication and collaboration • Provides guidelines and advice about the organization of virtual internships Demo: http://www.provip.eu
- 22. VMCOLAB: European Co-Laboratory for the Integration of Virtual Mobility in Higher Education Innovation and Modernisation Strategies LLP project, October 2012 – September 2014 • “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” Internationalisation of curricula
- 23. Internationalisation of curricula Objectives VMCOLAB project • Develop a Quality Assurance approach for VM • Develop institutional awareness of VM potential • Develop students’ awareness on opportunities to use ICT for intercultural study • Develop mutual support services for HEIs willing to pilot VM programmes • Test a set of mutual support services for HEIs • Integrate VM in institutional academic contexts
- 24. Internationalisation of curricula Results For higher education institutions • A Quality Assurance handbook for Virtual Mobility • A Virtual Mobility Integration Kit • Institutional Awareness Seminars For students • A Students’ Guide to Virtual Mobility • ‘Virtual4Me’ website: http://virtual4me.vmcolab.eu Testimonials students: http://virtual4me.vmcolab.eu/vm-alumni- testimonials For policy makers • Policy recommendations & • Policy event
- 25. Internationalisation of curricula Pilot project Water Management • KU Leuven, universities of Granada and Porto • Integrated in the curriculum • Sharing of expertise of the different partner institutions – exchange of modules and materials • International online group work - Master thesis • Intercultural aspects • Preparation since January 2014
- 26. Technology • Use the benefits of tools & technologies BUT no technology without philosophy, vision, strategy • Technology should be an aid, not a barrier Pedagogy • Choose the right scenario’s & models: student-centred, collaborative learning,… • Intercultural skills development: make goals explicit and stimulate reflection (e.g. through peer feedback) • Explicit attention for the human factor (face-to-face contact, choice of technology, procedure in case of problems, room for virtual ‘chitchat’) Organisation • Virtual mobility requires good organisation, planning, timing: roles of those involved need to be clear, draw up a communication protocol,… Lessons learnt & recommendations
- 27. Virtual mobility: an alternative for or a complement to physical mobility? • No substitution for physical mobility but a different way of being mobile! • Blended approach!
- 28. VM-BASE project: vm-base.europace.org Move-IT project: move-it.europace.org VMCOLAB project: www.vmcolab.eu Virtual4Me website (for students): virtual4me.vmcolab.eu EU-VIP project: www.euvip.eu PROVIP project: www.provip.eu Pathway platform: pathway.sekoialearn.com Projects funded by the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme More information?
- 29. Contact Ilse Op de Beeck Leuven Institute for Media and Learning, KU Leuven ilse.opdebeeck@kuleuven.be More information?