Ms. Sari Hantula & Mr. Timo Raatikainen from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki, introduced their joint project in a lab session of the Online Educa Berlin Conference on Dec 2, 2011. This was the third consecutive year when the work of the E-Team of the School of Arts and Creative Industries presented their work at the world's biggest conference on online learning. In 2009 and 2010 the presentations, given by Mr Timo Raatikainen (Head of eLearning Services, Senior Lecturer), dealt with different e-tools in conjunction (2009) and a pilot project on the Mahara PLE platform (2010). These presentations are also available on Slide Share.

1. The E-Trick:
Innovative Approaches to Language
Learning at a University Setting
Sari Hantula & Timo Raatikainen
connect.metropolia.fi/oeb2011

2. Why are we looking for
new solutions for online learning?

3. Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
• Arts and Creative Industries, Business, Engineering,
Social and Health Care
• Students: 16,000. Staff: 1200. Campuses: 15.
Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland
School of Arts and Creative Industries
• Classical Music, Pop & Jazz Music, Conservation, Cultural Management,
Design, Fashion and Clothing, Film and Television, Media, Performing Arts,
9 Bachelor’s degrees (incl. Adult Education Programmes)
• 4 Master’s degrees
• R & D & I projects
Students: 2200. Staff: 250. Campuses: 5.
3

4. 17
Koivuhaka
Constraints of Location 2 Tikkurila
Time Management
14
Myyrmäki Environmental Issues
Family and Health Issues
6
Leppävaara
10
12 16 Arabianranta
Koskela
Etelä-Haaga
13 3
Ruskeasuo 5
Kumpula
Arts and Creative Ind.
4 Business
Meilahti
Kallio
7 Health Care and
Social Services
1 Technology
Ruoholahti
15 Helsinki
11 9 City Center
8

5. Professional Communication Skills in
Finnish, Swedish and English
 An integral part of a specialist’s skill set.
 Tuition is tailored to meet the specific needs of each area of specialisation
(23 in total).
 Objectives
Our students can communicate
- confidently and effectively,
- using the correct specialist terminology
- in a style appropriate for a variety of study and work-related situations.
 5

6. Professional Language and
Communication Skills
1. Realistic view of one’s communication skills and
a plan for life-long language learning
2. Getting a lot of practice in oral communication
3. Learning to use IT for language learning
- editing tools, spell check etc.
- dictionaries, authentic texts, videos
4. Detailed feedback on oral and written tasks
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7. Possibilities of our International Network
”If it can be done locally, it can be done globally.”
1.12.2011 7

8. E-Trick
Online Language Learning in
the School of Arts and Creative Industries

9. E-Trick Report
1. What is the E-Trick?
2. Participants
3. Launching the E-Trick
4. Trials
5. Results
1.12.2011 9

10. 1. What is the E-Trick?
E-innovation project based on the values of Metropolia
• High quality of learning
• Shared expertise
• Equal and open learning community
1.12.2011

11. 2. Participants
Language Teachers & E-Team ies
IT Services
Sari Hantula Timo Raatikainen
Students and Staff Anu Luoma Gunilla Blom
Anu Pekkarinen
1.12.2011

12. 3. Launching the E-Trick
1. Taking Metropolia towards its strategic goals
2. Teams of E-specialists and teachers
3. Low threshold software: Adobe Connect & Skype
4. Easy access to user training and support throughout
the whole project
5. Headsets, web cameras and conference microphones
- staff work stations or laptops
- 1 tutoring space / campus
- 1 classroom and computer lab / campus
- 1 conference mic / campus

13. 4. Trials
Technical Set-up
X number of online participants
- headset and webcam
X number of online participants
and a group live participants
- conference mic, webcam (& projector)
Types of Sessions
Individual Sessions
Group Tuition
http://www.clearone.com/docs/manuals/800-
156-201_Rev2.5_CHAT150Manual_Final.pdf
Sessions between Students

14. Individual Sessions
Tutoring and Consultation Learning Agreement
Metropolia Terminology
Evaluation and Feedback Accreditation of Prior Learning
Interviews, Reports
Texts: Track Changes
Coaching Pronunciation
Practising a Presentation
Collaboration Writing or editing a text together
1.12.2011

15. Case: Opening Address at an International
Conference
”My English isn’t amazing – my French is much stronger – but it was good that I
wrote the text myself and didn’t ask someone to translate it. It was hard, but I felt
that I learned a lot this way.
It was great to get help with the language, but also the content improved as Sari
asked me to explain some thoughts that were not clear. We came up with solutions
together and we were able to see the results right away on the screen.
Collaboration was like playing tennis: suggestions and clarifications were served
from both sides of the net. The final version was a result of a collaborative effort.
I read final version a few times, and Sari helped me with pronunciation.
You can’t imagine how happy I was, when my son said to me after the address,
”Mom, I didn’t know you speak such good English!”

16. How to Use Online Resources?
• Multilingual General and Specialised Dictionaries
Sibelius Academy Glossary of Music Terminology
• Monolingual Dictionaries
Merriam-Webster
Find out a) the etymology and the different meanings for the word ’Bachelor’
b) synonyms for the words ’beautiful’ and ’interesting’
The Free Dictionary
Find out what these music-related idioms mean (besides their concrete meaning)
’to play something by ear’
’to strike a chord’
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
Find out how to use the word ’recital’

17. Using Authentic Texts for
Contextual Learning
• Explore the Naxos website and write down a list of 20-30 key words
and phrases in English and Finnish
• Explore the MusicTheory website and
a) assess the usability and content of the site
a) write down a list of 20 – 30 key words and phrases
in English and Finnish

18. Using Authentic Video & Audio
Recordings for Contextual Learning
Watch the video on Basic Violin Maintenance more than once.
1. What are the key tips the speaker gives?
Is there anything you’d like to add to the list of maintenance tips?
2. Pay attention to the intonation of the speaker.
How is it different from the intonation in your language?
3. How does the speaker introduce the topic and what are
the sign post expressions she uses to help
the listener take in the content?

19. Sessions between Students
• Student Meetings : can be recorded
• Helps to point out the strengths of communication:
Confidence and comfort, fluency, clarity, appropriate and varied
structures and vocabulary
As well as areas to improve:
pronunciation: sounds, emphasis, intonation
flow: unnecessary repetition, fillers, pauses, hesitations, false starts
structures: too simple or too complex structures
Cases: Broadcasting Journalism
1.12.2011

20. 5. Results from Language Teachers’
Point of View
1. More collaboration and a stronger connection to our colleagues:
E-team and other teachers.
2. Confidence and skills to use Skype and Adobe connect in language coaching,
even without help from the E-team.
3. Staff and students appreciate the flexibility of location:
saving time, reducing our carbon footprint, family and health reasons,
more possibilities to receive individual consultation and feedback.
4. Areas to improve: sound quality in Sessions between students +
most suitable team assignments
5. We are eager to take the next steps:
- Sharing the results with other teachers
- Exploring possibilities for e-learning with
our international partners

21. 5. Results from the E-team’s Point of View
1. Positive Visibility & Chain Reaction: staff know more about our services
and are willing to explore and start using Skype and Adobe Connect.
2. Practical knowledge on how to launch a project like this with other
teaching staff.
3. User-friendly instructions for Skype and Adobe Connect, conference
microphones and headsets.

22. Kiitos!
Thank You!
Dankeschön!
1.12.2011