Teaching and Learning Community Work Online: Can E-Learning Promote Competences for Future Practice?

Abstract

This article presents a case study of an online course in Community Work and the learning outcomes for an international group of students participating in the course. Examples from the process of, and results from the development of virtual-learning material are presented. Finally, the students’ learning experience and competences achieved by the use of innovative learning material and ICT communication tools are presented.

KEYWORDS:

• community work
• e-learning
• international courses
• participatory action learning
• participatory action research
• social work
• virtual-learning material

Notes

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme–Call for Proposals 2008 (EAC/30/07) Erasmus Programme: Erasmus Virtual Campuses under the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency. Reference number: 142767-LLP-1-2008-1-NO-ERASMUS-EVC.

This article reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

During the years there have been changes regarding partner institution. Pr. 01. October 2008–1 September 2010 the following partners are members of the new SW-VirCamp Consortium: Bergen University College (HiB), Norway; Inholland University of Applied Sciences (INH), the Netherlands; Mannheim University of Applied Sciences (HSMA), Germany; Miguel Torga University College (ISMT), Coimbra, Portugal; University of Complutense (UCM), Madrid, Spain; Bodø University College (HIBO), Norway; K.H. Kempen University College (KHK), Geel, Belgium; School of Health Sciences (HHJ), Jönköping University, Sweden; University of Liepaja (LPA), Latvia; Mittweida University of Applied Sciences (HSM), Germany; Lusofona University (ULHT), Portugal; Swansea University (SWAN), Wales, UK.Nine of the partners mentioned above have also been partners in VIRCLASS. In addition also University of Parma, Italy; Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences, Dornbirn, Austria; University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland; Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania have been partners.

The Action–Research spiral: the “spiral of self-reflective cycles of planning, acting and reflecting … , then planning … , etc.” (Kemmis and McTaggert, 2000, pp. 596–597).

From it's learning webpages: “it's learning is one of the world's leading providers of educational technology … we are a global market leader in developing, deploying, supporting and hosting learning platforms and educational software”. http://www.itslearning.co.uk/aboutus