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VIRTUAL ORIENTATION FOR INCOMING EXCHANGE STUDENTS. Raisa Saviaho at University of Warsaw Oct 12th, 2007. Laurea Units. Laurea University of Applied Sciences.
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VIRTUAL ORIENTATION FOR INCOMING EXCHANGE STUDENTS • Raisa Saviaho at University of Warsaw Oct 12th, 2007
Laurea University of Applied Sciences • Bachelor and Master degree programmes- Business, Hospitality and Security Management, ICT, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Social Services, Natural Resources andMedia- in Finnish and in English • Operating model: Learning by Developing (LbD)Progressive inquiry learning, i.e. learning that takes place through research and development in working life development projects
International Laurea • A wide range of international activities • Approximately 200 incoming exchange students per academic year
Background: Previous orientation provided for incoming students • www-pages • info letters • personal advice(e-mail) • supportive e-learning studies • arrival days • student tutoring • orientation week and camp
Background: Need for development • Good orientation = successful exchange • Information provided beforehand -> problem prevention, shorter adjustment time • Personal advice takes up a lot of resources and can be frustrating to adviser • Online orientation and guidance is cost affective and allows wider participation
Objectives • Well orientated incoming exchange students • Sharing information and getting to know one another, also among arriving students • Levelling and decreasing workload • Ensuring correct and good quality information for everyone
Welcome to Finland • An e-learning workspace • Platform for sharing information • Discussion forum • Shared login and password
Orientation schedule • Information at www.laurea.fi • Information at home institution • Application and acceptance • -> Access to ’Welcome to Finland’ • Arrival days • Face-to-face tutoring • Orientation week and camp
Experiences so far: Success • positive feedback • some active users • continuance • open communication • feeling welcomed -> less stress
Experiences so far: Challenges 1/2 • ICT skills • language skills • previous experience • chatting culture • credibility issues: written info vs. ”spoken”, info for everyone vs. individual advice • censoring messages (unwanted attention)
Experiences so far: Challenges 2/2 • The platform / system used (technical application) • Problems in ICT and language skills, virtual culture etc. with the people giving guidance
Future development • Continuance by using the same workspace • Guidance also from previous year’s students to next year’s students • Workspace layout -> more user friendly • Increasing the involvement of tutors
VM-BASE • Virtual Mobility Before and After Student Exchanges • Activities include research and piloting • http://vm-base.europace.org/ • http://www.europace.org/
Laurea’s pilot • Orientation and guidance study unit for Laurea’s students going abroad • Based on feedback and experiences - and the need to update • Before, during and after the exchange phases • Face-to-face meetings, group meetings, assignments, discussion and diary/blog • Offline and online
AFTER THE EXCHANGE ONLINE ASSINGNMENTS AND DISCUSSION GROUP MEETING MARKETING OF STUDENT MOBILITY APPLICATION DURING THE EXCHANGE ONLINE ASSINGNMENTS AND DISCUSSION FEEDBACK FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS GROUP MEETING BEFORE THE EXCHANGE ONLINE ASSINGNMENTS AND DISCUSSION GROUP MEETING
Laurea’s pilot • Good experiences so far with a small pilot group • Assessment -> Dissemination of the practice to all outgoing students
Thank you! • Ms. Raisa Saviaho • raisa.saviaho@laurea.fi • +358 9 8868 7230Skype: rsaviaho