Synergies among international projects addressing online teaching and learning challenges
In 2022, from June 27 to July 1, VMU teachers participated in the training of the international project “Active Class: Activating Students in Online Classes” (“Active Class“), which aimed to introduce the flipped classroom methodology and its possibilities and peculiarities when planning blended and/or online teaching and learning. The training was aimed at lecturers from Vytautas Magnus University, Silesian University in Katowice and Sofia University. During the sessions, lecturers shared best practices on active student learning strategies in blended and online learning. Experts shared theoretical insights and presented their experiences with the flipped classroom methodology. Group discussions took place in national and international expert groups. The discussions provided more ideas for engaging students and increasing their participation in online classes. In addition to sharing best practices in online teaching and learning, participants also discussed the challenges they face in designing learning content and the growing need to develop digital competences to ensure smooth, engaging and evidence-based learning
VMU ISI team shared their experience of international projects aimed at developing institutional readiness for online teaching and learning, providing opportunities for University teachers to develop their digital competences, and creating a virtual learning environment that reflects modern studies. Participants underlined and agreed on the importance of synergies between all these aspects.
The following international projects conducted by VMU ISI were presented to the participants:
- Transparent Assessment for Online Learning by Digitally Competent Professors – DIGI-PROF
- Digital transformation in adult education for inclusive online training – TRANSFORM
- Supporting the Development and Certification of the Digital Competences of Educators – EDDICO
- European Credit Clearinghouse for Opening up Education – ECCOE
Following the project presentations, the training participants discussed how to develop and implement transparent assessment of online learning and digital recognition of learning outcomes to further promote mobility between European higher education institutions by adapting the established ECCOE framework. Next to this, the launch of a learning lab for adult educators was presented. This laboratory will help adult educators and adult education organisations to transform traditional training activities into online learning. At the same time, it will also help to empower trainers to transform and improve teaching strategies, to find learning opportunities and resources that are relevant and necessary for the acquisition of competences.
