Towards e-coaching, the first step to build trust with a digital coach Erasmus Project

Project Title

Towards e-coaching, the first step to build trust with a digital coach

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Partnerships for Digital Education Readiness

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Open and distance learning; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

The COVID-19 crisis brought organizational and educational challenges for universities throughout Europe. All teaching content had to be converted to digital formats at short notice.

Answering the call STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS COVID-19 IN RESPONSE OF THE SITUATION, the Consortium (Bialystok University of Technology (BUT), Leipzig University (ULE), Tampere University of Applied Science (TAMK) and Technical University of Crete (TUC)) conducted in-depth research on the needs of the academic community in connection with the pandemic. The research results are based on over 5,000 student surveys and over 1,000 surveys among lecturers carried out at Partners universities after “digital” semester. They show general experience and perception of both groups about conversion.

In the overall view of the survey results, digitization was largely successful. Most of the teachers confirmed that they were able to conduct all courses online and most students had to postpone only a few planned courses due to the situation.
What do students like in distance learning? In the first place: availability, mobility and possibility to work at home. In the second place – I do not like anything!
What do they dislike the most? In the first place – lack of contact and help from the teacher. In subsequent positions – technical challenges, the chaos, lack of coordination, lack of direct contact with the teacher, lack of direct contact with the group.
After one semester with distance learning, we can expect that the chaos can be reduced. From the organization point of view, we are better prepared, we have collected some experience etc. Organization aspect is very important. However educational aspects are still in the experimental phase.
Nearly half of surveyed ULE students (46%) indicated that they found it difficult to participate in courses. A lack of motivation (61%), lack of social contacts (60%) were cited as the main reasons for this. Many lecturers (72%) also stated that communication with students did not always run smoothly. During online education, it is very difficult to involve students to actively participate in the classes. And the biggest challenge is to build trust with digital educators. Education process, at least at universities, will probably never be the same. Over 70% of BUT students expect that in the near future the mixture of the traditional approach and the form of distance education will be implemented.
How to address these challenges just in front of possible next lockdown?

These are the things we are aiming for and with the following outputs, we want to achieve these goals.

Based on our extensive experience in successfully building trust through the use of coaching in the educational process, we are willing to introduce a coaching method in distance education (e-coaching). This method enables to “activate” students (inclusive education) and personalizes the education process (each student receives “material” which is required, not a general lecture directed to “everybody”). Coaching is a method of shaping skills based on the art of asking questions that mobilize the questioned (coachee) to self-analyze, act and seek knowledge.
The time of the pandemic in which we find ourselves is the time of limited contact between students and teachers and this time can be used to introduce a coaching methodology that can make our students very “independent”, increasing their creativity and commitment.
But first, Academic teachers need the activation program. Many times services are available but some reason or another there is no knowledge how to obtain, access, use and assess the tools and methods available. It will be executed through improved e-learning platforms of the Project Partners i.e https://sites.tuni.fi/digitaltoolkit/ (TAMK) and http://coursevo.com/ (TUC).

We will reach our goals through the following outputs:
O1. An innovative didactic methodology for distance education (E-Coach), which will create the basement to build trust between parties of the educational process,
O2. Integrated e-learning platform on the application of e-coaching methodology; it includes the activation program for teachers,
O3. Pilot examples of e-coaching courses i.e.12 recorded Calculus, Algebra, Programming and Entrepreneurship classes using the innovative e-coaching methodology dedicated to higher education institutions.
These outcomes may be relevant also for other fields of education, training and youth.
Our direct target groups are academic teachers. The implemented methodology will have also a direct influence on students. It is planned that over 50 teachers and students will be involved in the project during the execution phase. At least 160 people from target groups will take part in the dissemination events.
To reach the objectives and deliver the results, the consortium will use PCM (Project Cycle Management) methodology. PCM is recommended by the EC in the planning and implementation of the EU-funded projects.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 254729 Eur

Project Coordinator

POLITECHNIKA BIALOSTOCKA & Country: PL

Project Partners

• UNIVERSITAET LEIPZIG
• TAMPEREEN AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU OY
• POLYTECHNEIO KRITIS