on-line support networks for international students ict & student mobillity, leuven, march 4-5,...
TRANSCRIPT
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 20041
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
Jeff Haywood
Scottish Centre for Research into On-Line Learning & Assessment (SCROLLA)School of Education&Media & Learning Technology ServiceUniversity of Edinburgh, UK&Chair, e-Learning Task Force, Coimbra Group
jeff.haywood@ed.ac.ukwww.scrolla.ac.ukwww.malts.ed.ac.ukwww.coimbra-group.be
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 20042
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
What does “international student” mean?
• First, second or third degree
• Students that come to a university for a whole degree course
• Students that come for one year or one semester
• Students that come ‘virtually’ = distance education
• Culturally ‘close’ or culturally ‘distant’
..and our students who do the same in another university
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 20043
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
Using ICT to enhance the educational experience of international students
What we can do to help?
What problems might arise?
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 20044
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
The networks that may support international students
student
Home & friends
Home university
• tutors
• advisors
• classmates
• agencies & societies
Own government funding agency
Visiting university
• local students
• own background students
• agencies & societies
• tutors
• advisors
Visit country funding agency
Home employer
• HR
• supervisor
• workmates
Alumni networks
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 20045
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
What ICT mechanisms exist to support these networks?
• Chat / MSN Messenger
• Videoconference / audioconference – desktop
• Videoconference / audioconference – suite ISDN
• Discussion groups / forums
• Websites – student’s own homepage
• Websites – university’s agencies & information
• PCs – network access – wireless
• technical + skills help & support
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 20046
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
To address some of the needs of visiting students,
we have created
VIC
Virtual International (Student) Community
The focus is building community in Edinburgh
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 20047
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 20048
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 20049
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 200410
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 200411
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 200412
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 200413
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 200414
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 200415
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 200416
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 200417
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 200418
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 200419
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 200420
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
More general ways to facilitate networks
• Chat & email freely available on campus
• No current support for desktop VC/AC although cheap to purchase
• Normally no access to VC suites although some special events have been organised with home country
• Laptop-wireless network and helpdesk systems heavily used by international students (many find employment there too!!)
• Streamed graduations for wider family & friends access to culmination of studies
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 200421
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
Beyond the university…
Regional and UK-wide national communities for visiting students (China, US notable – others??)
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 200422
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
Distance education & international students
• Very little exists in Edinburgh so large-scale community building not arisen
• Community at course level rather than at university level
• Not enough concentration in-country to merit local communities (cf Open Universities) – will base on alumni networks when necessary
ICT & Student Mobillity, Leuven, March 4-5, 200423
On-Line Support Networks for International Students
In conclusion
• Systematic & effective support for networks will become more important as IS numbers rise and mobility (physical & virtual) increases
• ICT can help traditional support systems to reach more students more effectively and efficiently, especially during ‘mobile phases’
• Emphasis on active support for integration may be best option – with ‘transparent’ support for ‘back home’ communications