From the Passive Student Role to the Active Actor

Author(s):

Anne Eskelinen(presenting / submitting)Nina Lahtinen(presenting)

Conference:

ECER 2012

Network:

22. Research in Higher Education

Format:

Poster

Session Information

22 SES 05.5 PS, General Poster Exhibition

General Poster Session during Lunch

Time:

2012-09-19

12:30-14:00

Room:

FCEE - Poster Exhibition Area

Chair:

Contribution

The purpose of this paper is to describe what kind of learning experiences students got while working as a student in projects concerned virtual services.

The theoretical background consists of a culture-historical activity theory. According to the theory, an activity consists of different kinds of activity systems. Expansive learning arises inside those systems (Engeström 1987, 2001). Activity system is an established convention according to which one acts in a community, which shares tools, rules and division of labor in their acting. There is also an object for the activity. (Virkkunen ym. 2001, 19-21.)

Laurea University of Applied Sciences is a multidisciplinary University of Applied Sciences operating in Uusimaa. There are approximately 8000 students and 500 staff members at Laurea. Laurea has created Learning by Developing (LbD) model - an innovative operating model based on authenticity, partnership, experiential learning, creativity and research. Learning is related to development projects that are genuinely rooted in the world of work. (Raij 2007.)

Traditionally teachers have been subjects and students more or less objects. Teachers have given information and teaching to students. Learning is outcome in this kind of activity system. Students use all that information they have learned after graduating in working life. In Laurea we think that students are subjects as teachers ant they have very active role in different projects. Together with working life students and teachers do developind projects in authentic environments.

Virtual service project called SenioriTV project started in Laurea Tikkurila autumn 2007 and continued as a project called HyvinvointiTV project till the end of year 2010. There was 330 students working in a projects during the years 2007-2010 and they got 735 credits belong to their different kind of studies. The target of these projects was to develop interactive TV services for elderly people co-operation with municipalities and technical provider Videra Ltd.

Method

We have collected the evaluation material during the projects by different methods like interviews, students’ self-evaluation and documentation. The aim of this study is to use the LbD-model and the culture-historical activity theory to describe and demonstrate students’ learning experiences.

Expected Outcomes

The expected results will relate students’ understandings about the rules, community, division of labor, tools and the LbD model. The results of this study will help teachers to plan future projects and will help them to understand students learning experiences when making their studies in projects.

References

Engeström, Y.1987. Learning by Expanding – an activity-theoretical approach to developmental research. Helsinki: Orienta konsultit. Havukainen, P., Janhonen, S., Sarja, A. & Vesterinen, A. SenioriTV-hankkeen mallintamisprosessi yhteiskehittelynä. Teoksessa Lambert, P.& Vanhanen-Nuutinen, L. (toim.) .2010. Hankekirjoittaminen Välineitä hanketoimintaan ja opinnäytetyöhön. Haaga-Helian julkaisusarja. Tutkimuksia 1/2010. Helsinki: Multiprint Oy,119-137. Kallioinen, O. (toim.) 2008a. Oppiminen Learning by Developing – toimintamallissa. Laurea Publications A61. Helsinki: Edita Prima Oy. Kallioinen, O. 2008b. Higher Education Students Experiencing Working Life Related Learning. ECER 2008. Kallioinen, O. (ed.). 2007. The Competence-Based Curriculum. Laurea Publications B 25. Pedagogical strategy 2007. Laurea University of Applied Sciences. Lambert, P.& Vanhanen-Nuutinen, L. (toim.) .2010. Hankekirjoittaminen Välineitä hanketoimintaan ja opinnäytetyöhön. Haaga-Helian julkaisusarja. Tutkimuksia 1/2010. Helsinki: Multiprint Oy. Laurea Facts. 2011-2012. Laurea University of Applied Sciences. Lehto, P. & Leskelä, J. 2011. Interactive CaringTV and userdriven eServices : the Safe Home project : final report. Laurea University of Applied Sciences Publications. B 45. Espoo : Laurea University of Applied Sciences. Pedagogical Strategy. 2007. Laurea University of Applied Sciences. Piirainen A. (toim.). 2008. Ohjaus Learning by Developing –toimintamallissa. Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulun julkaisusarja A67. Helsinki: Edita Prima Oy. Piirainen & Irma Sarekoski (Eds.). 2008. Customer-driven CaringTV® concept for elderly family care givers living at home : final report of the Coping at Home research. .Laurea-publications. A 62. Raij, K. 2007. Learning by Developing. Laurea publications A 58. Helsinki: Edita Prima Oy. Vyakarnam, S., Illes, K., Kolmos, A. & Madritsch, T. 2008. Making a Difference. A report on Learning by Developing – Innovation in Higher Education at Laurea University of Applied Sciences. Laurea publications B 26. Virkkunen, J., Engeström, Y., Pihlaja, J. & Helle, M. 2001. Muutoslaboratorio. Uusi tapa oppia ja kehittää työtä. [Change Laboratory. The New Way to Learn and Develop Work] Helsinki: Edita.

Author Information

Anne Eskelinen (presenting / submitting)

Laurea University of Applied Sciences

Vantaa

Nina Lahtinen (presenting)