European Virtual Seminar on sustainable development

1. European Virtual Seminaron sustainable development

2. The aim of the EVS (European Virtual Seminar on Sustainable Development) is to promote an international and multidisciplinary dialogue on sustainable development issues between students from all over Europe by using modern ICT. In this seminar students are directly confronted with different views and opinions on sustainable development issues. Views and opinions that are highly related to different social, cultural, political, economic and environmental backgrounds students are living in.

3. What’s the EVS about? • collaborative learning • place and time independent learning • using modern information and communication technology • promoting an international and multidisciplinary dialogue on sustainable development issues in Europe • co-operation between institutions for higher education

4. Short history • 2000 small project funding by the EU: coordinated by the Open Universiteit Nederland & COPERNICUS-CAMPUS • 2001 pilot: 6 institutions, 50 students, 6 groups, 3 cases • 2002 1st run: 12 institutions, 45 students, 9 groups, 4 cases • 2003 2nd run: 15 institutions, 70 students, 11 groups, 5 cases • 2004 3rd run: 20 institutions…students, ...groups, ...cases

5. EVS partners 2004-2005

6. Didactic concept

7. pedagogy • collaborative learning via internet • international and multidisciplinary compound groups • two phases in EVS course: • individual: electronic learning environment and team building • group: research proposal, research, group report, policy summary • assessment and marking: • group products (report and policy summary) by the expert • group process (cooperation group members) by the tutor

8. content • overall theme: Sustainable Development in Europe • case studies • European Union and the agricultural policy. Case: Poland • European spatial planning and policy. Case: the regions with the Mediterranean forest Dehesa • Integrated water management. Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive. Case: Danube • Nature and biodiversity conservation. Case: Rumanian forests • The Lisbon Strategy. Case: Making Europe the most competitive (+ sustainable?) region of the world • Lakes in Sweden • Sustainable enterprises

9. community • student groups: international & multidisciplinary (4-6 members) • tutors: coaching and assessing group process • experts: assessing group products • institutional coordinators: project management & formal issues

10. electronic learning environment • web based course materials • communication and interaction between students (and staff) facilitated by modern ICT • communication tools: • group areas (open and secured) • electronic discussion boards • chat facilities • e-mail facilities

11. Students participation To participate in the EVS students should: • be interested in sustainable development issues • be interested in group work • be able to read and write English • have access to a computer and internet connection • have an open mind to E-learning

12. EVS–run 2004-2005 • start 20 October • end 17 January • studyload 100-120 hours (8-10 hours a week) • 20 institutions in 13 European countries • a lot of different disciplines • 3 physical meetings at your institution (today, middle, end) • focus on virtual cooperation with students from all over Europe in small groups (4-6 group members) • assistence by coordinators, tutors, experts • publication in the COPERNICUS Open Science Resource on Sustainable Development

13. EVS screen dumps: webportal

14. main menu

15. content area (case study Danube)

16. communication area: a group discussion board

17. group products - report

18. More information? EVS: http://blackboard.ou.nl/evs