How To Create A Blended Learning Course In Sociology

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Michael Wheeler
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1 Virtual Campus in Blended Learning: From the First Blended Learning Degree in Sociology to E-Urbs Giovanni Torrisi (Università di Urbino Carlo Bo ) Facoltà di Sociologia Università degli studi di Urbino Carlo Bo

2 Agenda 0) Conditions and context 1) Eurex: the starting of experience 2) Sociologiaonline.net: the first Blended Learning Degree in Sociology 3) E-Urbs: the institutionalization.

3 Conditions and context It all started in 1997, when professor Guido Martinotti opened the first Degree in Italy in Urban Sociology in Milan. The University of Urbino participated at the initiative and took it as a starting point and as a model for the next experiences.

4 What is Eurex? Eurex is an international online seminar on social changes processes that affect cities and metropolitan areas. Its aim is creating the basis for a comparative scientific debate that uses also the new communication media, including visual tools. It started in 1999 with a focus on European cities but it would be opening soon its perspectives to the US cities. Since 2005 it opened to the rest of the world Characteristics: Completely on-line; Truly international; Promotes collaborative activities; Forerunner of Web 2.0; Multidisciplinary; Multilanguage, but with one working language

5 EUREX: the actors During the last 7 years, the project has involved: 45 teachers 6 different subjects 33 US and European Universities 18 Countries (A, AL, B, CH, CZ, D, DK, F, FIN, GR, H, I, J, NL, PL, TR, UK, US) 155 PhD Students 25 MA Students

6 EUREX: the products During the last seven years, Eurex has developed a range of innovative characteristics that helped promoting the debate and the international research on comparative urban issues and strengthening and mantaining a network of researchers by using communication technologies. Online synchronous interaction (chat) Off-line asynchronous interaction (forum) Remote Upload device for sharing database contents (pictures, sounds, ) Pictures Localisation facility Libraries, papers, videos,. Visual search engine (new > eurbs)

7 EUREX: a shared visual laboratory The on-line database allowed decentralization and sharing of any kind of visual information, its classification and research. Geographically relevant info Different type of media Adaptable classification tools Free (searchable) description

8 EUREX: Visual laboratory (2) Discussion on 45 papers with the scholars involved Online library (video-audio) available to all Online image databank (9,000 pics) available to all Localisation of 25% of the pictures on maps Spin-offs (testing of online environments and sw) Book+CD on Cities of Europe (Blackwell, Oxford) Networking activity and projects (RTN, )

9 Sociologiaonline.net: the blended experience Sociologiaonline.net is the first blended learning course in sociology provided in Italy. Initially, it aimed at allowing students who could not come in person to the university to attend a degree course actively. It soon revealed itself to be an interesting platform for research and development of alternative instructional methods. Characteristics: Bleded method; Italian curricula but opened to foreign countries Collaborative activities promotion Wide use of Web 2.0 Multidisciplinary

10 Sociologiaonline.net: actors 1 Responsible 1 Coordinator 27 Teachers 193 Students 8 Tutors

11 Sociologiaonline.net: products Materials Blended Model 98 original text produced 24 Audio classes 226 Interactive classes 226 Trascriptions 19 On-line courses (throughout the year) Integrated with 9 Attendance courses (during summer courses) For a total of 28 courses

12 State-of-art: E-Urbs E-Urbs is the first European Masters in Comparative Urban Studies and benefits from all the above mentioned experiences proposing a comparative Masters in blended modality. It has been funded by the EU ( ) and makes use of a 9 partner collaboration (NL, ES, DE, UK, DK, BE, IT 2, PL). Characteristics: Blended modality Truly international New method for comparative research Collaborative activities promotion Actively based on Web 2.0 Multidisciplinary English as working language, but it gives space to flexible multilingualism

13 E-Urbs: the institutionalization of an experience E-Urbs is a 60 ECTS Masters. It is based on the experience of a group of international researchers who developed the curriculum as well as on the skills of the team work of the University of Urbino who structured the path. It is multidisciplinary, multidimensional and international. It emphasizes a comparative approach that benefits of a blended work perspective which helps developing the ability of understanding and interpreting urban changes and thinking about the appropriate strategies to intervene on urban policies.

14 E-Urbs: a blended experience E-Urbs provides an integrated blended structure: (August 2006-July 2007) 1) First period (~1 month) 6 intensive and full courses in Urbino (Italy). 2) Second period (~6 month) 6 intensive courses in e-learning. 3) Third (~3 mesi) Internship in one of the partner institutions to carry on the research and writing of the final work.

15 E-Urbs: innovations 1) eportfolio 2) Visual Search Engine 3) Online questionnaires and learning curve 4) Learning with fun

16 Web Resources Eurex Sociologiaonline E-urbs

17 Thank you for your attention

PhD School. Bocconi University Contact Center 02 5836.3434 (from Italy) +39 02 5836.3535 (from abroad) Skype: www.unibocconi.

PhD School. Bocconi University Contact Center 02 5836.3434 (from Italy) +39 02 5836.3535 (from abroad) Skype: www.unibocconi. Bocconi University Contact Center 02 5836.3434 (from Italy) +39 02 5836.3535 (from abroad) Skype: www.unibocconi.eu/contactcenter PhD School Office via Röntgen 1 20136 Milan, Italy Administrative Assistant: