Abstract:

Merged universities and colleges face many challenges and new possibilities. Western University of Applied Sciences consist of three teacher education colleges that merged in 2017. There are still three physical campuses, but these three campuses are working together and it constitutes Norway's largest teacher education program. We strive to give the students an equal high-quality education regardless of which campus they belong to.

Use of digital technology is a key to support innovative approaches in teaching and learning where students and teacher educators are dispersed between multiple campuses. This presentation explains how and why the concept “vestland-classes” is established as a part of the teacher education program at Western University of Applied Sciences. It is an online and flexible course, and entirely or partially web-based. All courses added to the 5th semester in initial teacher education are organized as vestland-class.

According to Nykvist et al. (2021) there is a need for universities to focus on professional learning opportunities and support for educators as they move to new ways of working. The educators need a deep understanding of pedagogical approaches that are flexible and adaptable to new and changing learning environment. Furthermore, it is necessary to develop a common understanding, since the teacher educators work crosswise of campuses.

The presentation has two themes for discussion:
The first one is related to the idea of vestland-class in light of active learning as prevailing pedagogical approaches in the design of new courses.
The second one is related to how the educational staff need to be better trained in the use of technology and the importance of doing research on our own practice to increase the quality in teacher education.

References:
[1] Nykvist, S. S., de Caro-Barek, V., Støckert, R., and Lysne, D. A. (2021). Key factors needed for developing a higher education cross-campus learning environment in a nordic context. Front. Educ. 6:763761. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2021.763761

Keywords:

Online learning, teacher education.