BLQE 2018 Abstracts

Full Papers Short Papers
Full Papers
Paper Nr: 2
Title:

Blended Learning - State of the Nation
Authors:

Ebba Ossiannilsson
Abstract: Blended learning is accepted cross the globe in line with technological development and increased digitization. Blended learning designs have led the trends in higher education in the past five editions of the \emph{NMC Horizon Report}, partly because of their flexibility, and convenience for students, although, it has been in use since the 1960´s. The concept is time and context dependent. Blended learning involves learners, teachers, administrators, technicians, leaders, and managers, all with a variety of aspirations and ambitions. Blended learning is part of the innovative transformation of education in the 21st century, as blended learning embraces personal quality learning. This widely recognized and personalized method engages, facilitates, and supports learning. UNESCO and the Commonwealth of Learning emphasize this approach, as it makes learning more flexible and convenient. This will help students be part of a global digital society. The blended learning model requires changes in the roles of both teachers and learners. These changes are accompanied by shifts in ownership and empowerment, where learners become prosumers and orchestrate their own learning regarding time, space, setting, path, and pace. This paper is based on a report on blended learning, state of the nation, written by the author on behalf of ICDE.
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Paper Nr: 5
Title:

Technical Innovation in Blended Learning – Concepts for the Creation of High Quality Continuous Vocational Education Courses using Multiple Devices
Authors:

Peter Mazohl, Ebba Ossiannilsson and Harald Makl
Abstract: The project Technical Innovations in Blended Learning (TIBL) aims to increase the training success (and outcomes) of C-VET trainees using “multiple devices” (computers, laptops, notebooks, tablets and smartphones) and with a blended learning approach. The tasks foreseen are: i) the development of blended learning training modules that will hopefully close expectation gaps between trainees and companies; ii) the creation of an easy-to-use toolbox delivered in open access aiming to support trainers to implement these modules or similar ones successfully; and iii) the implementation of a blended learning course “Train the Trainers” supplied as a MOOC course, based on Moodle as an OER, also using multiple devices. This contribution presents the project as well as the pedagogical principles underlying the courses. The project will focus on the delivering of content by multimedia material which can be used on all mentioned devices, and specific pedagogical techniques, like micro learning and flipped learning approach. The developed methods will be evaluated in real courses undertaken in formal education and in non-formal education within real enterprises.
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Paper Nr: 6
Title:

Virtual Teachers' Toolbox – An Innovative Tool to Assist the Creation of High Quality Open Distance Learning Courses
Authors:

Peter Mazohl, Ebba Ossiannilsson, Harald Makl, Maria Ampartzaki and Michail Kalogiannakis
Abstract: Virtual Teachers’ Toolbox aims to create a special virtual toolbox for teachers as a sophisticated tool for developing open, online, flexible and technology enhanced education (OOFAT learning). This toolbox assists teachers/trainers in the course creation by offering a pedagogical framework with a special student’s view, a quality enhancement framework and a new self-evaluation technic, the so-called mandala evaluation. This project uses a strategic cooperation between formal and non-formal/informal educational providers using ICT based teaching and the enhancement of digital integration in learning. It will be enhancing teachers’ professional development and support students‘ acquisition of values, skills and competences. Additional, pilot courses as samples of proven praxis will be produced and be published as Open Educational Resources (OERs).
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Short Papers
Paper Nr: 3
Title:

A Virtual Lab Plugin for Open Source Learning Management Systems for Improving Quality in Blended Learning
Authors:

Mohammad Ali Kadampur and Raju Enugala
Abstract: Experimentation is very fundamental to learning Science and Technology courses. In this paper, the dimensions of introducing virtual laboratories as an essential part of blended learning curriculum are discussed. The paper demonstrates the designing of a virtual laboratory plugin that can be used by developers to develop customized laboratory sessions with provisions such as code editors, remote compilation, simulation, monitoring, session control and remote proctoring. The plugin can be easily downloaded and installed for developing virtual labs in major curricula of Science and Technology. The paper demonstrates one such developed application to teach a computer science & engineering course. The paper marks through the phases of plugin development, its features and usage aspects in a laboratory setup. The paper proposes recommendations to curriculum developers to incorporate virtual labs as part of their curriculum and utility of such a plugin in the Learning Management Systems. The paper concludes with quality standard assessment of virtual lab extensions in blended learning.