Upper Secondary Distance Learning

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Upper Secondary Distance Learning

• FNBEs National Project 2000-2004

Kimmo Koskinen Kimmo.koskinen_at_oph.fi www.oph.fi
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Upper secondary distance learning what is it?
1(2)

• A new educational track utilizing distance
  learning method inside the current Finnish
  education system
• supplementary part to the normal teaching of
  upper secondary schools
• no need for changes of legislation
• no need for changes of structures of current
  education system

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Upper secondary distance learning what is it?
2(2)

• Certificate-oriented education
• the whole adult upper secondary school syllabus
  (44 courses)
• according to the national core curriculum for the
  adults (by FNBE)
• matriculation examination ( national
  school-leaving examination)
• duration normally 3 years
• free of charge for students
• Individual subjects and courses
• fees vary according to the school

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Upper secondary distance learning for whom?
1(2)

• adults who wish to update and supplement their
  general education, but who cant utilize the
  conventional education system
• employed or unemployed adults
• normal upper secondary school students in
  support of regular upper secondary school studies
  and to supplement course provision
• students at vocational institutions (such as
  those taking the upper secondary school
  matriculation examination and a vocational
  qualification in parallel)

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Upper secondary distance learning for whom?
2(2)

• polytechnic/ university students for remedial and
  refresher study
• comprehensive school pupils as additional studies
  and as an introduction to upper secondary school
  studies
• people temporarily residing abroad

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The Development project 2000-2004 the objectives

• to increase equality in education
• to promote lifelong learning
• to create an open and flexible possibility for
  adults to complete upper secondary school studies
• to develop learning methods (ICT)
• to produce study materials (Internet, TV, radio)
• to develop models of co-operation

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The Development project 2000-04 - who were
involved? 1(2)

• Ministry of Education
• Finnish National Board of Education
• Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE)
• Interest groups publishing companies,
  IT-companies and network operators, local and
  provincial authorities ...

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The Development project 2000-04 - who were
involved? 2(2)

• 86 upper secondary distance schools
• upper secondary schools for adults
• regular upper secondary schools
• vocational schools
• regionally co-operating virtual networks
• approximately 3 200 distance students in project
  schools by year

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Financing of the project 2000-2004

• EU-funding, mainly through ESF (total 7M / 5
  years)
• Ministry of Education
• Finnish National Board of Education
• County governments
• Provincial federations
• Municipalities
• Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE
• Companies

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The role of Finnish NBE

• National project coordinator
• guiding, informing, planning development
• searching and sharing of best practices
• evaluation (separate project 2002-2004)
• financing reporting (ESF etc.)
• co-operation with project partners, interest
  groups and other virtual school projects

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The role of Finnish NBE

• Organizing the in-service teacher training,
  development seminars etc.
• Content production with YLE
• Certificate-oriented learning materials
• Web modules
• TV radio learning programmes
• FNBE 50 / YLE 50 financing
• contracts 1997-1999, 1999-2004, 2004-2006

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Result1) More upper secondary schools offering
courses for adults
Upper secondary distance schools andnetworks in
2004
Adult upper secondary schools in 2000
Over 100 schools
54 schools
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Result 2) Increased use of e-learning methods
and equipment
eBeam etc.
Wager Aalto 2000
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Distance learning in practise
1(3)

• Multiform (blended) learning courses distance
  learning face to face learning
• A) Distance learning period - teacher ? tutor
• - learning materials and equipment
• books, materials by teacher
• web sites (NBEs etc.)
• radio and TV programmes
• web-based learningenvironments
• email, telephone, mail

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Distance learning in practise
2(3)

• B) Face to face learning (optional)
• - classroom teaching (e.g. 3 x 2 hrs/course)
• - tutors office hours
• - possibility to participate in conventional
  classroom teaching
• - tests under supervision
• - videoconferencing

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Distance learning in practise
3(3)

• Pure virtual courses
• Network based courses
• Teaching/ studying via internet
• Flexible opportunity to choose courses from other
  schools
• regional study supply (web portals)
• schools in cooperation ? no long-term waiting
  times, exceptional courses available (rare
  languages etc.)
• national study supply (NBE EDU.fi services)

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Result 3) Effective models of distance learning
networks example 1

• Centralized model
• Common curriculum used in every school
• Common study supply and centralized students
  enrolment for courses
• Schools do not have any own distance study
  courses i.e. each course is provided by the
  network (distance learning center)
• Face to face teaching is given via
  videoconferencing (from one point to max 15
  points)
• Students participate face to face lessons in
  their local schools
• A network coordinator is essential for the
  arrangements (selection of teachers, division of
  the costs etc.)

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Result 3) Effective models of distance learning
networks example 2

• Decentralized model
• Every school has and uses its own curriculum
• Each school has its own study supply
• Students complete most of their courses in their
  own schools
• Opprtunity to choose courses from other network
  schools as well (contracts between the schools)
• Students participate face to face lessons in the
  school that arranges the course (only in some
  courses videoconferencing is available)

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4) The results of content production with YLE

• TV radio learning programmes
• 102 TV 165 radio programmes
• Web modules
• over 130 web modules ? updating project
  2004-2006

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5) The results and effects of studies

• The drop-out rate is higher in distance learning
• Until now there are approx. 1000 distance
  learning students who have completed upper
  secondary school
• Results in matriculation examination do not
  differ from conventional classroom learners
• About 50 of the students aim at continuing
  their studies in the university or in
  polytechnics
• The benefits and effects (according to students)
  of the studies relate most strongly to increased
  well-being, language skills, self-confidence and
  pleasure

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Challenges

• Objective 2007 The Upper Secondary Distance
  Education will be established as one of the basic
  activities of most upper secondary schools
• 1) Networking
• Deepening and extending the networking
• new upper secondary schools and vocational
  schools
• local economic life
• international co-operation

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Challenges

• 2) Operational environment and resources
• Finance of the development work of schools and
  networks (ESF and other financing sources?)
• Students - enough students in the future?
• - to decrease the number of drop-outs
• - new target groups more men, personnel training
  
• Qualified teachers? ? teacher training
  pedagogical support
• Technical equipment support (who pays?)

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Challenges

• 3) Learning environment
• Utilizing the network and ICT-tools properly in
  teaching/learning
• - interaction!
• Learning to use the new possibilities of ICT
  tools
• - digital TV and radio
• - mobile-learning
• - web-conferencing
• - whiteboard (eBeam etc.)

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Summary What is the additional value of distance
education to upper secondary school education?

• Increases and diversifies the use of ICT in
  teaching and learning
• Develops the working environment of school into
  more open and flexible direction
• Increases networking at regional level,
  co-operation and willingness for further
  development in educational institutions
• Supports the maintaining of school networks
• Widens the course supply of small upper secondary
  schools

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Further information

• The Finnish National Board of Education
• www.oph.fi/etalukio
• The Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE/ TV
• www.yle.fi/opinportti
• The Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE/ radio
• www.yle.fi/multifoorumi/multiradio