Programme and contents
The Intensive Course will be divided into three parts:
Part 1
One week hosted by Helsinki University, Finalnd (week 39, 2012):introduction to the course content, goals and organization, Icebreakers and structures that set the scene for inclusion among the participants and as a theme for the intensive course week; hereunder group structures, Introductory lecturers and workshops.
Part 2
5 Weeks of distance learning will include (weeks 40-45):group work using IT tools for online communication; counselling from lecturers
Part 3
One week hosted by Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania (week 46):group presentations of teaching, feedback and evaluation are the main issues of that week.
Contents of the intensive course
Part 1
Part 1 will contain theoretical knowledge on inclusion and challenges. Students will be divided into groups representing the participating institutions. Students will choose a theme and start exploring this from different angles and positions. The learning process and the work in the groups will be based on the following principles:
- Example based exchange of experiences
- Problem-based approaches, action learning and project work
- Theoretical input
- Doing in practice
- E-learning
- Teacher counselling
- Presentation of group work
- Evaluation of the group work
Part 2
Part 2 contains project or group work in the established international groups who will make use of online communication facilities and receive counselling from the assigned lecturer/s. With the outset in the initial examination of the theme, the groups will explore the theme further and work on the organisation of their actual teaching learning process that is based on the key elements of the course.
The lessons will be presented and carried out during part 3 of the intensive course.
Part 3
Part 2 will contain the following elements:
- Final organisation of the groups’ planned lessons focusing on inclusion and environment
- Presentations of the prepared lessons by the groups; i.e. carrying out the planned teaching-learning session that will allow the presenting group and the participants in general to experience and reflect on theory and practice and how theory translates into practice
- Finalisation of the pp-presentation and collection of the portfolio
- Feedback and evaluation
The presentation, together with the portfolio, will make up the base for the assessment of the groups’ work in the intensive course. Each group will be assessed separately, but as a group.