Technology to Create International Learning Networks

1. Technology to Create International Learning Networks FE Colleges and the International Market: Maximising Opportunities, 20th September 2006, Earls Court One, London, UK Dr. Cheryl Morgan, Dysg and iEARN UK

2. Barriers to success What barriers to success do overseas students experience in your College? • Work with 2-3 others to identify the three most important issues that overseas students face while studying in the UK • Share one strategy you use to raise achievement and/or course completion for your overseas students

3. Possible barriers to success • Difficulty with English language • Difficulty adjusting to the Culture of the country • Difficulty understanding the curriculum • Inexperience in group work • Difficulty with the course tutor • Racism, bigotry or bullying

4. Bob Hofman, iEARN Netherlands Technology is only there to support human interaction and Project Based Learning (PBL)

5. Peter Copen, founder of iEARN 'Computers alone do not mean much. The key to all this is teacher training & education.  It is in this domain that iEARN has and can play a most important role.   Why?  Because iEARN is dedicated to the humanization of the technology.

6. International Education and Resources Network - iEARN • Over 18 years linking schools for project work in both northern and southern hemispheres (started in 1988) • Structures and projects in 115 countries involving 1,000,000+ students annually in over 25,000 schools • Collaboration with governments, NGO’s, foundations, educational agencies, youth groups, religious groups, etc.

7. Dysg - DELLS • Practitioners must continue to learn from each other by sharing experience and best practice. • We need practitioners who are able to make better use of emergent technology, are better equipped to lead learning as well as teach… • Dysg promotes practitioner innovation through involvement in iEARN project based learning, Youth Conference in Global Stewardship and use of new technologies Source: The Learning Country 2: Delivering the Promise, April 2006

9. iEARN Goals • To facilitate teacher and student-directed collaborative on-line project work • To create global, national, and local support structures to sustain project work • To demonstrate that on-line education can enhance learning and improve the quality of life on the planet

10. The iEARN family is experienced at - • Relationship-building • Facilitating international connections • Supporting mutual collaborations

11. e-Learning in the UK Many initiatives in the UK speak to the ideal of 'e-learning'  Sadly this usually equates to learning how to use software or admonitions to avoid cyber bullying etc  The idea of learning with rather than about other countries is still alien to many

12. Ways to promote International Learning Networks • Participate in international projects linked to course requirements • Sponsor vocationally focused iEARN Learning Circles • Use iEARN network to select candidates for UK FE College scholarships • Incorporate iEARN professional development resources and training within CPD and PGCE programmes • Build strong international alumni

13. Promoting UK FE education overseas through iEARN • Take part in iEARN projects to build reputation of FE Colleges across the iEARN world • Over 250 projects sponsored by teachers in 115 countries in a variety of languages are available • We recommend that teachers first join an on-going project before developing their own project

14. Sample iEARN projects suitable for FE Colleges • A Levels (English, History, Maths, Physics, Science • Art & Design • Business Studies • Catering • Child Care • Drama • Health and Social Care • Language • Media • Motor Vehicle • Sport • Travel and Tourism

15. iEARN Learning Circles • Develop vocationally focused iEARN Learning Circles to introduce potential foreign students to the FE system and to improve their English in the vocational subject • Ex. Catering Learning Circle explores topical issues with groups of students from 8-12 different countries/centres. • Through the Learning Circle students and teachers learn about FE College life while the UK tutor identifies/selects students for scholarships to study in the UK

16. Selecting candidates to study in UK • Work in partnership with target country coordinators to recruit and vet students with potential for study in UK • Use successful iEARN experience as pre-requisite for scholarships in UK FE Colleges • This system is already working in Pakistan and Bangladesh and could be a cost effective way to expand overseas recruitment

17. FE Alumni • Promote iEARN Alumni networks among overseas students • Alumni can continue to receive CPD from their FE College after returning to their home country • Alumni can promote the FE College with prospective students in their country • Alumni can add value to the FE College through continued relationships

18. iEARN CPD opportunities • Variety of training opportunities • Self study resources for international collaboration, problem based learning • On-line professional development courses • Face-to-face workshops and training • Interactive professional development forums • Suitable for PGCE and/or CPD

19. A student’s perspective of iEARN  Access to more knowledge in many different areas  Improve English language  Ability to work in groups  More self-confidence  Better social skills  Effective computer/IT skills  Have a positive role in solving the problems of my society  Have more effective personalities  Know how to use time effectively for my benefit as well as benefit for others

20. Dissolving Barriers

21. Next steps • Visit Dysg website Good Practice Models (on Key Skills section) to explore more ways to use iEARN to build international learning networks • Develop an action plan for using iEARN to create International learning networks in your FE College • Identify tutors/courses to take part in iEARN pilot project • Register with iEARN www.iearn.org

22. Further information Dysg: www.dysg.org.uk iEARN UK: www.iearnuk.org Cheryl Morgan: Cheryl.Morgan@WALES.GSI.gov.uk