European Network for Virtual lab & Interactive SImulated ONline learning 2027 Erasmus Project

Project Title

European Network for Virtual lab & Interactive SImulated ONline learning 2027

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: Inclusion – equity; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

Context/background of project: The Project will address both (1) the current need of transitioning from conventional classroom teaching into digital remote teaching due to the pandemic, as well as (2) improving the current status of online teaching and e-learning course modules across Europe for the future needs. The context of answering these demands -to innovate new concepts and modes of digital teaching- is Bioscience studies. Specifically, how can we conduct virtually sections of laboratory experiments and teamwork assignments, which both are at the core of undergraduate education in Biosciences. For students, both types of studies are essential for learning about their study substance and developing and rehearsing their teamwork skills, including taking responsibility of their own learning and learning experience, along with learning to share the workload of the assignments with their peers.

Objectives of the project: The main objective of the ENVISION_2027 project is to innovate new e-learning course modules, which would provide the students a possibility to do laboratory exercises online and engage actively in teamwork in digital environments. In both settings (Virtual Laboratory and Virtual Teamwork) the main focus is in creating more engaging learning environment where students are in charge of their own progress and learn important meta skills. We aim not to replace but to complement and enhance laboratory exercises and classroom teaching by virtual laboratory and virtual teamwork. Importantly, we will investigate how learning analytics (LA) can be incorporated into our e-learning modules and be optimized to measure students’ learning for better learning outcomes and experiences. The overreaching goal of our Project is to offer the students individualized learning experience in the future, based on the real-time LA incorporated in the e-learning course modules.

Number and profile of participants: This Project is interdisciplinary. The six Project partners have in-depth experience in research and know-how on how to do high-quality e-learning modules and deliver online teaching of their specific areas of expertise within Biosciences (UoL, KI, UTU, ÅA), and LA (UiB, UEF).

Description of activities: The main work of the Project will be done within the “Intellectual Outputs” (IO), each with a breakdown to specific Tasks, with their respective Milestones. While UTU takes the responsibility to lead and coordinate the Project, each Partner is a responsible leader of one (or two: UoL) intellectual outputs; UiB is a co-leader of one IO together with UEF. Additional activities undertaken by the Project are: Multiplier events and Learning Teaching Training events, where each Partner has an active role. Each Partner will organize one Multiplier event in their country, which will be open to all university teachers and students, as well as to other interested stakeholders. Learning Teaching Training events will be organized online, to share the expertise and know-how of invited and “in-house” speakers on topics relevant to the Project objectives and all the Partners.

Methodology to be used in carrying out the project: The Project will use and test/pilot various Virtual Laboratory/Virtual Reality (VR) software, and a number of different digital tools and platforms. The Virtual Teamwork modules will use and test/pilot different digital tools and platforms to enhance student activation in and responsibility of their course assignment, as well enhance their interaction with each other. Importantly, to improve the digi-pedagogic aspects and quality of the e-learning modules, the incorporation and use of LA will be investigated. Further, the Project will perform two Surveys (described in IO 1 – IO 2) to find out (1) what kind of obstacles/solutions European universities have faced/found while transitioning into digital teaching in 2020, and (2) to collect follow-up data from Project’s own Pilot e-learning modules.

Results and impact envisaged: (1) Evaluation of good practices, and analysis of problems found in digital education in Europe, based on the survey data. (2) Piloted e-learning courses/modules implementing different virtual laboratory and virtual teamwork technologies, methods and platforms, which engage the students in active interaction, rewarding learning, and produce good learning experience. (3) Up-dated, analysis-based recommendations of good digi-pedagogic practices in implementing virtual laboratory and virtual teamwork modules.

Longer term benefits: (4) Improved selection of high-quality elective study modules for students applicable in different disciplines and HEIs, and thereby (5) increased equality and non-discrimination of students in the HEIs across the Europe. (6) An actively collaborating and innovating new network of scientists/teachers benefiting from each other’s different fields of special expertise and experience. A network, which is more than the sum of its members.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 288205 Eur

Project Coordinator

TURUN YLIOPISTO & Country: FI

Project Partners

• UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
• KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET
• UNIVERSITETET I BERGEN
• ABO AKADEMI
• ITA-SUOMEN YLIOPISTO