Designing Virtual Mobility as a transformative learning experience

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21556/edutec.2021.75.1953

Keywords:

Virtual Mobility, Virtual Exchange, Critical Reflection, Transformative Learning, Activity-Centred Analysis and Design (ACAD) Framework

Abstract

Virtual student mobility and blended student mobility are becoming a key strategic policy area in European educational policy, with the aim of providing all students in Europe with the experience of mobility during their studies. This article looks at the extent to which these forms of mobility are designed to support transformative learning experiences, through the analysis of three virtual mobility cases in secondary education and three cases in higher education, using the Activity-Centred Analysis and Design (ACAD) Framework. The findings show that virtual mobility offers suitable learning environments where transformative learning can occur. However, structured reflection needs to be more elaborately designed for and supported to achieve its full potential. The article suggests that structured reflection is currently primarily focused on the development of intercultural skills and attitudes, but offers opportunities for other learner skills in virtual mobility (such as collaborative learning and networked learning). The article suggests some methods to do this.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Anson, C. M. (1997). On reflection: The role of logs and journals in service-learning courses. Writing the community: Concepts and models for service-learning in composition, 167-180.

Baiutti, M. (2018). Fostering assessment of student mobility in secondary schools: indicators of intercultural competence. Intercultural Education, 29(5–6), 549–570. https://doi.org/10.1080/14675986.2018.1495318

Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: the exercise of control. New York: W.H. Freeman. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21556/edutec.2021.77.2177

Barton, G., & Ryan, M. (2020). What Does Reflection Look and Feel Like for International Students? An Exploration of Reflective Thinking, Reflexivity and Employability. Journal of International Students, 10(S2), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v10iS2.2848

Blaschke, L. M., & Marín, V. I. (2020). Applications of heutagogy in the educational use of e-portfolios. Revista de Educacion a Distancia, 20(64). https://doi.org/10.6018/RED.407831

Boud, D., Keogh, R., & Walker, D. (1996). Promoting reflection in learning: A model. In R. Edwards, A. Hanson & P. Raggatt (Eds.), Boundaries of adult learning (pp.32-56). Routledge.

Brown, J. S., Collins, A., & Duguid, P. (1989). Situated cognition and the culture of learning. Institute for Inquim, 18(1), 32–42. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X018001032

Carvalho, L., & Goodyear, P. (2018). Design, learning networks and service innovation. Design Studies, 55, 27–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.destud.2017.09.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14393/ER-v28a2021-11

Chwialkowska, A. (2020). Maximizing Cross-Cultural Learning From Exchange Study Abroad Programs: Transformative Learning Theory. Journal of Studies in International Education, https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315320906163

Ceo-DiFrancesco, D., Dunn, L. S., & Solorio, N. (2020). Transforming Through Reflection: Use of Student-Led Reflections in the Development of Intercultural Competence during a Short-Term International Immersion Experience. Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice, 18(2), 8. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/ijahsp/vol18/iss2/8/

Deardorff, D. K. (2006). Identification and assessment of intercultural competence as a student outcome of internationalization. Journal of Studies in International Education, 10(3), 241–266. https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315306287002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/tops.12192

Deardorff, D. K. (2020). Manual for developing intercultural competencies. Story circles. Unesco Publishing and Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429244612-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000884

De Wit, H. (2016) Internationalisation and the role of online intercultural exchange. In R. O'Dowd & T. Lewis (Eds.). Online Intercultural Exchange: Policy, pedagogy, practice. Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/2696454.2696468

Duffy, L. N., Stone, G. A., Townsend, J., & Cathey, J. (2020). Rethinking Curriculum Internationalization: Virtual Exchange as a Means to Attaining Global Competencies, Developing Critical Thinking, and Experiencing Transformative Learning. SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, 0(0), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/1937156x.2020.1760749 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/3813820

Erasmus+ (2020). Erasmus+ Programme Guide. European Commission. https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/resources/documents/erasmus-programme-guide-2020_en DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40379-3_4

eTwinning (2021). eTwinning. https://www.etwinning.net/en/pub/index.htm DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1687814017698663

European Commission (2021a). Mobility and cooperation. https://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/higher-education/mobility-and-cooperation_en#:~:text=Learning%20mobility%20is%20an%20opportunity,to%20study%20or%20undertake%20training.&text=for%20mobility%20experiences.-,European%20ministers%20have%20agreed%20to%20double%20the%20proportion%20of%20students,to%2020%20percent%20by%202020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00468

European Commission (2021b). Interactive facts and stats on Erasmus+. https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/news/interactive-facts-and-stats-erasmus_en DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781783476732.00017

European Commission (2021c). Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange – Intercultural Learning Experiences. https://europa.eu/youth/sites/default/files/eyp/eve/attachments/eve_brochure_2019.pdf DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00469

Evolve (2021) What is Virtual Exchange? https://evolve-erasmus.eu/about-evolve/what-is-virtual-exchange/ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3202185.3202741

Fleming, T. (2014). Axel Honneth and the Struggle for Recognition: Implications for Transformative Learning. Proceedings of the XI International Transformative Learning Conference, (December), 318–324. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cogs.13043

Fleming, T. (2018). Critical Theory and Transformative Learning: Rethinking the Radical Intent of Mezirow's Theory. International Journal of Adult Vocational Education and Technology, 9(3), 1-13. IGI Global. https://www-learntechlib-org.kuleuven.ezproxy.kuleuven.be/p/186256/. DOI: https://doi.org/10.23923/pap.psicol.2996

Frydenberg, Mark, & Andone, Diana. (2018). Enhancing and Transforming Global Learning Communities with Augmented Reality. Journal of Information Systems Education, 29(1), 37-44. https://aisel.aisnet.org/jise/vol29/iss1/10 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3469595.3469604

Frydenberg, M. & Andone, D. (2019). Does Creating Shared Projects in Virtual Reality Capture Students' Interest in Technology? An International Project in STEM Education. 2019 IEEE Integrated STEM Education Conference (ISEC), 311-315. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-015-0835-0

Gehrke, N. J., Knapp, M. S., & Sirotnik, K. A. (1992). In Search of the School Curriculum. Review of Research in Education, 18(1), 51–110. https://doi.org/10.3102/0091732X018001051 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327051hci1901&2_4

Glassner, A., & Back, S. (2020). Exploring heutagogy in higher education: Academia meets the Zeitgeist. Springer Nature. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3171221.3171266

Goodyear, P., & Carvalho, L. (2019). The analysis of complex learning environments. In H. Beetham & R. Sharpe (Eds.) Rethinking pedagogy for a digital age: Principles and practices of design (pp. 49-65). Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/2696454.2696457

Goodyear, P., Carvalho, L., & Yeoman, P. (2021). Activity-Centred Analysis and Design (ACAD): Core purposes, distinctive qualities and current developments. Educational Technology Research and Development, (0123456789). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-020-09926-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0216869

Hase, S., & Kenyon C. (2000). From andragogy to heutagogy. ultiBASE, 5 (3). Online Journal. http://pandora.nla.gov.au/nnh-wb/2001022013OO00/http://ultibase.rmit.edu.au/Articles/decQ0/hase2.htm. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25554-5_39

IEREST (2015) Intercultural Education Resources for Erasmus Students and their Teachers, Koper: Annales University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.09.025

Kidwai, K., Johnson, G., Hsieh, P., Hu, R., & Buzzetto-More, N. (2010). Promoting reflective thinking through e-portfolios. In N. A. Buzzetto-More (Ed.) The e-portfolio paradigm: Informing, educating, assessing, and managing with e-portfolios. (pp.247-266). Informing Science Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.2009.01613.x

Kitchenham, A. (2008). The evolution of John Mezirow's transformative learning theory. Journal of Transformative Education, Vol. 6, pp. 104–123. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541344608322678 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/2701973.2701977

McKenney, S., & Reeves, T. C. (2018). Conducting educational design research. Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogdev.2021.101044

Mezirow, J. (1997). Transformative learning: Theory to practice. New directions for adult and continuing education, 1997(74), 5-12. https://doi.org/10.1002/ace.7401 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2015.05.009

Nada, C. I., Montgomery, C., & Araújo, H. C. (2018). 'You went to Europe and returned different': Transformative learning experiences of international students in Portugal. European Educational Research Journal, 17(5), 696–713. https://doi.org/10.1177/1474904118765334 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogdev.2020.100875

Op de Beeck, I., Bijnens, K. & Van Petegem, W. (2008). Home and Away: Coaching Exchange Students from a Distance. Europace. Heverlee, Belgium. https://www.kuleuven.be/onderwijs/werken_opo/documenten/vm-base-blended-mobility-manual.pdf DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/2701973.2702058

Rajagopal, K., Firssova, O., de Beeck, I. O., Van der Stappen, E., Stoyanov, S., Henderikx, P., & Buchem, I. (2020). Learner skills in open virtual mobility. Research in Learning Technology, 28. http://dx.doi.org/10.25304/rlt.v28.2254 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ROMAN.2014.6926313

Rajagopal, K. & Firssova, O. (2020). Open VM Final Report on Conceptual Guidelines. https://www.openvirtualmobility.eu/topics/outputs/o1-framework-and-guidelines/ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2019.06.009

Remillard, J. T. (2005). Examining key concepts in research on teachers' use of mathematics curricula. Review of Educational Research, 75(2), 211–246. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543075002211

Rintala, U. (2011). State-of-the-art in support of virtual placements – A study carried out in the framework of the EU-VIP project. https://www.eurashe.eu/library/modernising-phe/mobility/virtual/WG4%20R%20euvip%20annex11.pdf DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0707769104

Rodgers, C. (2002). Seeing Student Learning: Teacher Change and the Role of Reflection. Harvard Educational Review, 72(2), 230–254. https://doi.org/10.17763/haer.72.2.5631743606m15751 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/2559636.2559663

Roy, A., Newman, A., Ellenberger, T., & Pyman, A. (2019). Outcomes of international student mobility programs: a systematic review and agenda for future research. Studies in Higher Education, Vol. 44, pp. 1630–1644. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2018.1458222 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01663

Ryan, M. (2013). The pedagogical balancing act: Teaching reflection in higher education. Teaching in Higher Education, 18(2), 144–155. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2012.694104 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3202185.3210788

Salajan, F. D., & Chiper, S. (2012). Value and benefits of European student mobility for Romanian students: experiences and perspectives of participants in the ERASMUS programme. European Journal of Higher Education, Vol. 2, pp. 403–422. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568235.2012.737999 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0006974

Sandoval, W. (2014). Conjecture Mapping: An Approach to Systematic Educational Design Research. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 23(1), 18–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508406.2013.778204 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4272/84-9745-136-8.ch10

Schön, D.A.: The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals think in Action. Maurice Temple Smith, London (1983) DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app11125707

Stevens Initiative (2019). Virtual Exchange Impact and Learning Report. The Aspen Institute. https://www.stevensinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Virtual-Exchange-Impact-and-Learning-Report.pdf DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/AEECT.2017.8257772

SUNY Coil Center (2021) What is COIL? https://online.suny.edu/introtocoil/suny-coil-what-is/ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2020.03.083

Van Maele, J. (2020). What do we exchange in virtual exchange? Reflections on virtual exchange as intercultural dialogue. In E. Hagley & Y. Wang (Eds.) Virtual exchange in the Asia-Pacific: Research and practice (pp. 37-59). Researchpublishing. net. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/SIIE.2017.8259668

Van Petegem, W; Erdman, A; Lang, D; Gordon, A; 2016. Professional and intercultural engineering competencies: Learning across borders. 44th Annual Conference of the European Society for Engineering Education - Engineering Education on Top of the World: Industry-University Cooperation, SEFI 2016; 2016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ICADW.2016.7942529

Wihlborg, M., Friberg, E. E., Rose, K. M., & Eastham, L. (2018). Facilitating learning through an international virtual collaborative practice: A case study. Nurse Education Today, 61(September 2017), 3–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2017.10.007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04435-9_30

Wulz, J., & Rainer, F. (2015). Challenges of student mobility in a cosmopolitan Europe. In A. Curaj, L. Matei, R. Pricopie, J. Salmi & P. Scott (Eds.) The European Higher Education Area: Between Critical Reflections and Future Policies. (pp. 43-58). Springer, Cham.

Yang, S. H. (2009). Using blogs to enhance critical reflection and community of practice. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 12(2), 11-21. https://www.ds.unipi.gr/et&s/journals/12_2/2.pdf

Downloads

Published

26-03-2021

How to Cite

Rajagopal, K., & Mateusen, L. (2021). Designing Virtual Mobility as a transformative learning experience. Edutec, Revista Electrónica De Tecnología Educativa, (75), 9–30. https://doi.org/10.21556/edutec.2021.75.1953