CONNECTING STUDY ABROAD WITH THE CONNECTING STUDY ABROAD WITH THE CMSCMS

Harry Vélez QuiñonesHarry Vélez Quiñones

University of Puget SoundUniversity of Puget Sound

ILACA Granada 2000, 2005 & ILACA Granada 2000, 2005 & 20082008

The problemThe problem

► Study Abroad – A memorable experience nearly impossible to shareStudy Abroad – A memorable experience nearly impossible to share

► ILACA-GRANADA - UPS partner program provided by ILACA - Independent ILACA-GRANADA - UPS partner program provided by ILACA - Independent Liberal Arts Colleges Abroad in cooperation with AHA InternationalLiberal Arts Colleges Abroad in cooperation with AHA International

► One semester program in Granada, SpainOne semester program in Granada, Spain► 40 students from 5 colleges in the Pacific Northwest40 students from 5 colleges in the Pacific Northwest

Gonzaga UniversityGonzaga University Pacific Lutheran UniversityPacific Lutheran University University of PortlandUniversity of Portland University of Puget SoundUniversity of Puget Sound Willamette UniversityWillamette University

The objectivesThe objectives

► To disseminate information to supplement what AHA and the 5 ILACA schools To disseminate information to supplement what AHA and the 5 ILACA schools provide to the studentsprovide to the students Cultural – Spanish current affairs, slang, local customs, food and wine, etc.Cultural – Spanish current affairs, slang, local customs, food and wine, etc. Practical – Travel to Spain, Spanish visa requirements and process, travel Practical – Travel to Spain, Spanish visa requirements and process, travel

within Spain, AHA code of conduct, important deadlines, hotels in Madrid within Spain, AHA code of conduct, important deadlines, hotels in Madrid and Granada, cell phones, etc.and Granada, cell phones, etc.

Academic – CLM courses, faculty course, etc. Academic – CLM courses, faculty course, etc. Personal – Faculty and site director profiles, student profiles, etc.Personal – Faculty and site director profiles, student profiles, etc. Practical –To encourage communication and interaction between a Practical –To encourage communication and interaction between a

heterogeneous group of studentsheterogeneous group of students► To foster a sense of shared mission or adventureTo foster a sense of shared mission or adventure► To insure an easy transition to the study abroad experienceTo insure an easy transition to the study abroad experience► To acquaint students with the Visiting Pacific Northwest Faculty MemberTo acquaint students with the Visiting Pacific Northwest Faculty Member► To provide a window for parents, relatives, friends, etc. to the students’ To provide a window for parents, relatives, friends, etc. to the students’

experience abroadexperience abroad

ILACA GRANADA 2000ILACA GRANADA 2000

► The first incarnation of this experiment was a websiteThe first incarnation of this experiment was a website

ILACA GRANADA 2005ILACA GRANADA 2005

► The second was supposed to have been a website as well:The second was supposed to have been a website as well:

ILACA GRANADA 2000 on BlackBoardILACA GRANADA 2000 on BlackBoard

► Then there was BlackboardThen there was Blackboard

Why BlackBoard?Why BlackBoard?

► Ease of use – adding content, etc.Ease of use – adding content, etc.► Familiar architecture – students know how to move around inside a LMS Familiar architecture – students know how to move around inside a LMS ► Interactivity – discussion boards replace forms or listervs for collecting input; Interactivity – discussion boards replace forms or listervs for collecting input;

students can create their own profiles or homepages in BlackBoardstudents can create their own profiles or homepages in BlackBoard► Privacy concerns – content is safe from prying eyesPrivacy concerns – content is safe from prying eyes► Growth potential – new sections and modules could be added - i.e. Content Growth potential – new sections and modules could be added - i.e. Content

areas for the course I taught in Granada, space for group projects, etc.areas for the course I taught in Granada, space for group projects, etc.► Continuity – the BlackBoard site could more easily be used and enhanced by Continuity – the BlackBoard site could more easily be used and enhanced by

subsequent ILACA – Granada visiting facultysubsequent ILACA – Granada visiting faculty

Results - CollectiveResults - Collective

► The vast majority of the objectives of the project were metThe vast majority of the objectives of the project were met Information disseminated through the site kept students on the ball and Information disseminated through the site kept students on the ball and

made it easier for them to accomplish the required pre-departure tasks.made it easier for them to accomplish the required pre-departure tasks. In turn this helped create a bond of trust between the students and their In turn this helped create a bond of trust between the students and their

soon to be academic advisor abroad.soon to be academic advisor abroad. Students developed a sense of shared mission or adventure and arrived in Students developed a sense of shared mission or adventure and arrived in

Granada showing a high degree of cohesivenessGranada showing a high degree of cohesiveness Their transition to the study abroad experience was enhancedTheir transition to the study abroad experience was enhanced Parents, relatives, friends, appreciated the wealth of information available Parents, relatives, friends, appreciated the wealth of information available

in the website and the many pictures documenting the experience abroadin the website and the many pictures documenting the experience abroad

Results – Personal Results – Personal ► I am extremely impressed by his work on I am extremely impressed by his work on

the web site and I can only describe it as a the web site and I can only describe it as a remarkable achievement. The Spring 2000 remarkable achievement. The Spring 2000 Program benefited in more ways than one Program benefited in more ways than one by his spectacular efforts in this respect. I by his spectacular efforts in this respect. I have already mentioned the increased have already mentioned the increased awareness among the students as to what awareness among the students as to what program planning they needed to do and program planning they needed to do and when to do it. Through the web site links when to do it. Through the web site links there was an abundance of orientation there was an abundance of orientation advice and tips for those who took the advice and tips for those who took the trouble to explore the site thoroughly. trouble to explore the site thoroughly. There was a feeling of unity in the group There was a feeling of unity in the group on arrival which I have not witnessed on arrival which I have not witnessed before and I can only conclude that the before and I can only conclude that the web site was largely responsible for this. web site was largely responsible for this. Throughout the program Harry Throughout the program Harry photographed and reported on everything photographed and reported on everything we did and put it on site for us all to we did and put it on site for us all to savour. He offered various possibilities for savour. He offered various possibilities for the students to contribute to the site, but the students to contribute to the site, but the limited access to internet at CLM was the limited access to internet at CLM was not in his favour. - not in his favour. -

MARK BENNETT MARK BENNETT

ILACA – GRANADA RESIDENT DIRECTORILACA – GRANADA RESIDENT DIRECTOR

Dear Harry: Dear Harry:

I have just driven back from the ILACA I have just driven back from the ILACA BoardBoard

meeting in Portland and wanted to let you meeting in Portland and wanted to let you knowknow

right away that your application for the right away that your application for the SpringSpring

2008 Granada visiting faculty position was2008 Granada visiting faculty position wasunanimously, enthusiastically, joyouslyunanimously, enthusiastically, joyouslyaccepted!!!! I could not wait until Monday accepted!!!! I could not wait until Monday

to to let you know! let you know!

Have a wonderful week-end and again, Have a wonderful week-end and again, manymany

congratulations!congratulations!

Take care,Take care,

Jannie MeisbergerJannie MeisbergerDirector, International ProgramsDirector, International Programs

Current challengesCurrent challenges

► Photos:Photos: Hosting pictures of our group activities remained something best kept in a website Hosting pictures of our group activities remained something best kept in a website

rather than on BlackBoard. Collecting pictures taken by the group ought to take rather than on BlackBoard. Collecting pictures taken by the group ought to take place. Setting a common site for sharing these seems like a good idea for 2008place. Setting a common site for sharing these seems like a good idea for 2008

► Web 2.0 is here:Web 2.0 is here: Adding new functionality may mean leaving the BlackBoard platform for a more Adding new functionality may mean leaving the BlackBoard platform for a more

flexible model such as DRUPAL or MOODLEflexible model such as DRUPAL or MOODLE► BlogsBlogs► Audio components:Audio components:

Odeo Odeo YackPackYackPack

► Wikis Wikis ► Flickr Flickr

► CollaborationCollaboration Making the project available for continued development remains desirable, and yet, Making the project available for continued development remains desirable, and yet,

potentially more difficult as additional functions are added.potentially more difficult as additional functions are added.

The endThe end

The beginning…The beginning…