European Virtual Seminar

on

sustainable development

The aim of the EVS (European Virtual Seminar on Sustainable Development) is to promote an international and multidisciplinary dialogue on sustainable development issues between students from all over Europe by using modern ICT.

In this seminar students are directly confronted with different views and opinions on sustainable development issues. Views and opinions that are highly related to different social, cultural, political, economic and environmental backgrounds students are living in.

What’s the EVS about?

collaborative learning

place and time independent learning

using modern information and communication technology

promoting an international and multidisciplinary dialogue on sustainable development issues in Europe

co-operation between institutions for higher education

Short history

2000 small project funding by the EU: coordinated by the Open Universiteit Nederland & COPERNICUS-CAMPUS

2001 pilot: 6 institutions, 50 students, 6 groups, 3 cases

2002 1st run: 12 institutions, 45 students, 9 groups, 4 cases

2003 2nd run: 15 institutions, 70 students, 11 groups, 5 cases

2004 3rd run: 20 institutions…students, ...groups, ...cases

EVS partners 2004-2005

Didactic concept

pedagogy

collaborative learning via internet

international and multidisciplinary compound groups

two phases in EVS course: – individual: electronic learning environment and team building– group: research proposal, research, group report, policy summary

assessment and marking:– group products (report and policy summary) by the expert– group process (cooperation group members) by the tutor

content

overall theme: Sustainable Development in Europe

case studies

– European Union and the agricultural policy. Case: Poland

– European spatial planning and policy. Case: the regions with the Mediterranean forest Dehesa

– Integrated water management. Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive. Case: Danube

– Nature and biodiversity conservation. Case: Rumanian forests

– The Lisbon Strategy. Case: Making Europe the most competitive (+ sustainable?) region of the world

– Lakes in Sweden

– Sustainable enterprises

community

student groups: international & multidisciplinary (4-6 members)

tutors: coaching and assessing group process

experts: assessing group products

institutional coordinators: project management & formal issues

electronic learning environment

web based course materials

communication and interaction between students (and staff) facilitated by modern ICT

communication tools:

‒ group areas (open and secured)

‒ electronic discussion boards

‒ chat facilities

‒ e-mail facilities

Students participation

To participate in the EVS students should:

be interested in sustainable development issues be interested in group work be able to read and write English have access to a computer and internet connection have an open mind to E-learning

EVS–run 2004-2005

start 20 October end 17 January studyload 100-120 hours (8-10 hours a week) 20 institutions in 13 European countries a lot of different disciplines 3 physical meetings at your institution (today, middle, end) focus on virtual cooperation with students from all over

Europe in small groups (4-6 group members) assistence by coordinators, tutors, experts publication in the COPERNICUS Open Science Resource on

Sustainable Development

EVS screen dumps: webportal

main menu

content area (case study Danube)

communication area: a group discussion board

group products - report

More information?

EVS: http://blackboard.ou.nl/evs