Researching student mobility in a digital world Jeff Haywood & Denise Haywood, Edinburgh University, UK, Sue Timmis, Angela Joyce & Jasper Tredgold, Bristol Univ., UK, Aune Valk, Tartu University, Estonia, Cesare Zanca, Siena University, Italy, Anthony Baldry, Pavia University, Italy, Steven Verjans & Nicola Mrose, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, BE, Isabel Perez, Granada University, Spain, Louwarnoud van der Duim, Groningen University, Netherlands, Matti Lappaleinen, Turku University, Finland, Axelle Devaux, Coimbra Group, Brussels, Belgium

European Developments in Higher Education Education & Training 2010 Bologna Process European Higher Education Area / Research Area ECTS Diploma Supplement Erasmus Programme etc

http://www.iupui.edu/~icic/images/MOF%20outside%20group%20work.JPG

Existing digital university processes Learning and teaching with technology; Digital libraries (e-journals, e-books, online databases & help); Integration of digital databases holding staff, student and course records; Portals as single channels of access to digital resources; Email as the major/dominant channel of communications; Single/reduced sign-on to authenticated systems (portal, email, library); Secure off-campus access to restricted digital resources (VPN, proxy); Websites as the major/dominant channel for information provision.

Existing digital university processes

Learning and teaching with technology;

Digital libraries (e-journals, e-books, online databases & help);

Integration of digital databases holding staff, student and course records;

Portals as single channels of access to digital resources;

Email as the major/dominant channel of communications;

Single/reduced sign-on to authenticated systems (portal, email, library);

Secure off-campus access to restricted digital resources (VPN, proxy);

Websites as the major/dominant channel for information provision.

The digital student Uses: Laptop/PC/internet frequently & from a variety of locations Lots of digital information sources, possibly preferentially to physical Chat, email, sms, social network software (friendster, myspace) Likes/expects: Fast & seamless services Universities to be online & reliably accessible BUT!

Uses:

Laptop/PC/internet frequently & from a variety of locations

Lots of digital information sources, possibly preferentially to physical

Chat, email, sms, social network software (friendster, myspace)

Likes/expects:

Fast & seamless services

Universities to be online & reliably accessible

BUT!

Sometimes it’s easier to get into a SL lecture than to get access to a computer at your host university

Interview fragment (when we can get the technology to work for us)

Interview fragment (when we can get the technology to work for us)

There is now also an increasing emphasis on virtual mobility in education (ie taking courses from another university (country) by distance learning methods, esp digital – e-learning ) eLearning Programme “ Development of existing instruments in particular those concerning virtual mobility as a complement and reinforcement for physical mobility (virtual Erasmus); recognition and validation schemes (based on ECTS); information and guidance services, and any other synergies between virtual and traditional models. ”

There is now also an increasing emphasis on virtual mobility in education (ie taking courses from another university (country) by distance learning methods, esp digital – e-learning )

eLearning Programme

“ Development of existing instruments in particular those concerning virtual mobility as a complement and reinforcement for physical mobility (virtual Erasmus); recognition and validation schemes (based on ECTS); information and guidance services, and any other synergies between virtual and traditional models. ”

physical mobility = a proxy for virtual mobility Little virtual mobility at present in European traditional universities and so special cases = special efforts Digital identities, access, facilities, services all affect most on-campus (traditional) students Transfer between universities raises challenges to universities to give visiting students fast & automatic digital rights/routes/support If we do not (cannot) automate & simplify our services to traditional visiting students, virtual mobility will be difficult to implement

Little virtual mobility at present in European traditional universities and so special cases = special efforts

Digital identities, access, facilities, services all affect most on-campus (traditional) students

Transfer between universities raises challenges to universities to give visiting students fast & automatic digital rights/routes/support

If we do not (cannot) automate & simplify our services to traditional visiting students, virtual mobility will be difficult to implement

We need a great deal of operational fine-tuning

Research methodology – triangulation of sources Desk research and case studies - Find the right questions Student perspective: Interviews  Identify right issues Survey: online, prizes to win  2400 responses University perspective: Survey: online, multiple people in 1 uni  55 responses Staff interviews: explore reasons for some of the findings Pilots: testing some possible enhancements to the virtual experience, and their organisational consequences Seminars: getting feedback on intermediate results

Desk research and case studies - Find the right questions

Student perspective:

Interviews  Identify right issues

Survey: online, prizes to win  2400 responses

University perspective:

Survey: online, multiple people in 1 uni  55 responses

Staff interviews: explore reasons for some of the findings

Pilots: testing some possible enhancements to the virtual experience, and their organisational consequences

Seminars: getting feedback on intermediate results

Topics & themes Before, during & after exchange period Student perspective: Access to digital services & support IT (access to computers), library, e-learning Access to home services while abroad Continued access to host service when back home University perspective: Libraries, ICT provisions, Student records/Registry, International Offices and e-learning Specific services for outgoing & incoming students?

Before, during & after exchange period

Student perspective:

Access to digital services & support

IT (access to computers), library, e-learning

Access to home services while abroad

Continued access to host service when back home

University perspective:

Libraries, ICT provisions, Student records/Registry, International Offices and e-learning

Specific services for outgoing & incoming students?

Topics of pilots Quality of information about the host university Assessing and attenuating digital culture shock Exchanging and transferring e-learning materials between universities Feasibility of a European course information database Feasibility of using Shibboleth for digital identity sharing Providing advice and support to outgoing students

Quality of information about the host university

Assessing and attenuating digital culture shock

Exchanging and transferring e-learning materials between universities

Feasibility of a European course information database

Feasibility of using Shibboleth for digital identity sharing

Providing advice and support to outgoing students

Outcomes of research Research results published Recommendations formulated Practical checklists for all relevant stakeholders Published by www.scrolla.ac.uk (Summaries available) Available as (online) publication at http://www.victorious-project.org/

Research results published

Recommendations formulated

Practical checklists for all relevant stakeholders

Published by www.scrolla.ac.uk (Summaries available)

Available as (online) publication at

http://www.victorious-project.org/

The free moving student?

Results from student perspective Digital culture shock: moving between highly integrated online services less integrated online services “ None at all: completely out of touch with modern technology! Everything was paper forms.” “ The information online to which I have had access were all relative to the previous academic year, the most part of it were mistakes” “ I did use them but only the last month when I finally got my account  ”

Digital culture shock: moving between

highly integrated online services

less integrated online services

“ None at all: completely out of touch with modern technology! Everything was paper forms.”

“ The information online to which I have had access were all relative to the previous academic year, the most part of it were mistakes”

“ I did use them but only the last month when I finally got my account  ”

Results from student perspective Information provision is weak Hard to find – Mainly in local language only Insufficient focus on needs of visiting students No or limited peer network for visitors Resourcefulness is needed Internet cafés for access to PC and Internet Use services of home university (library access, etc.) Sharing of passwords

Information provision is weak

Hard to find – Mainly in local language only

Insufficient focus on needs of visiting students

No or limited peer network for visitors

Resourcefulness is needed

Internet cafés for access to PC and Internet

Use services of home university (library access, etc.)

Sharing of passwords

Results from university perspective Business processes directed at on-campus students Physical presence needed for many services Particularly libraries International offices not very concerned with digital services More services for incoming than for outgoing student “ Out of sight, out of mind?” Access to distant learning materials not obvious Awareness is rising

Business processes directed at on-campus students

Physical presence needed for many services

Particularly libraries

International offices not very concerned with digital services

More services for incoming than for outgoing student

“ Out of sight, out of mind?”

Access to distant learning materials not obvious

Awareness is rising

Recommendations For universities Providing good, structured, up-to-date info is ‘easy’ Easier enrollment and registration needed Specific training and support for digital provisions Collaboration across bureaucratic borders For students and their associations More wide-thinking in planning visits / virtual participation Seriously consider everything that might go wrong (It will !) Collect and share experiences and solutions

For universities

Providing good, structured, up-to-date info is ‘easy’

Easier enrollment and registration needed

Specific training and support for digital provisions

Collaboration across bureaucratic borders

For students and their associations

More wide-thinking in planning visits / virtual participation

Seriously consider everything that might go wrong (It will !)

Collect and share experiences and solutions

Recommendations For European, national & regional agencies Provide single search for course/programme information Single digital identity system(s) for students / staff e.g. high-level (national) federations for Shibboleth Easier Internet access (e.. EduROAM) Help remove digital barriers

For European, national & regional agencies

Provide single search for course/programme information

Single digital identity system(s) for students / staff

e.g. high-level (national) federations for Shibboleth

Easier Internet access (e.. EduROAM)

Help remove digital barriers

Follow-up project http://vm-base.europace.org/

EXPECTED OUTPUTS: Orientation guidelines for students Codes of good practice in designing pre-selection tests for students Blue print for preliminary courses for students preparing for a physical Erasmus exchange Guidelines on assessment and evaluation tools A study on a Virtual Alumni Association for Erasmus students A manual on ‘good-practices in e-coaching’ A manual with validated procedures and recommendations for blended mobility activities at institutional, network and European level

EXPECTED OUTPUTS:

Orientation guidelines for students

Codes of good practice in designing pre-selection tests for students

Blue print for preliminary courses for students preparing for a physical Erasmus exchange

Guidelines on assessment and evaluation tools

A study on a Virtual Alumni Association for Erasmus students

A manual on ‘good-practices in e-coaching’

A manual with validated procedures and recommendations for blended mobility activities at institutional, network and European level

Let’s try to make the (virtual) exchange visit more agreeable and decrease the (digital) culture shock

Positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright

www.slideshare.net/sverjans http://www.victorious-project.org/

www.slideshare.net/sverjans

http://www.victorious-project.org/