From 6th till 10th of November in Riga happened the first meeting of the Nordplus Adult 2017 project «Improvement of professional skills in teaching natural science subjects based on finding the best practices and acquiring new methods in distance education for adults» with project partners from Nordic open online academy (Norway) and SE-Folkuniversitetet kursverksamheten vid Lund Universitetet (Sweden).

Within the framework of the project, Norwegian and Swedish partners spent one week in Latvia.

On Monday, an introductory session took place, in which each school and representatives introduced themselves and their schools. From Folkuniversitetet (Sweden) the school was presented by Project Manager Åsa Hedlin Olsson and trainer and teacher Angela Berglund, but from NooA (Norway) – school founder Morten Flate Paulsen and biology distance teacher Hanna Josie Nordgård. Each countries representative presented their school to project partners, talking about school goals and curriculum for Natural Science subjects and the problem situations which they would like to address within the framework of this project. As the project took place in Riga, Aija Bārzdaine, Director of the European Distance Education Secondary school, with guide introduced Norwegian and Swedish partners with the Old Town and its magnificent history.

On Tuesday, during the cultural day, project representatives went to Sigulda to explore Latvia’s nature and hear more about the history of the country. At the beginning of the day Sigulda City Center was viewed and, with a guide’s help, the project partners went to Castle of Livonian Order in Sigulda. The famous Gutman’s cave was also explored and everyone were introduced to its famous history.

During the day, Turaida Museum Reserve most famous places were also viewed – the rock garden, the Turaida Medieval Castle, and the Turaida’s Roze Memorial. The Cultural Day ended with a Bobsleigh Luge Track Tour.

On Wednesday, within the framework of the project, Swedish and Norwegian project partners were also introduced to the teaching environment and work process of another distance education school – Riga Distance Education Secondary School. Distance learning colleagues discussed how their teachers compiled the content of science education and discussed the overall impressions of the distance learning process. During the day, colleagues showed the University of Latvia’s Center of Natural Sciences Academy and introduced foreign guests to the National Library of Latvia.

At the end of the week, the European Distance Education Secondary school introduced the project partners to the School of Economics and Culture, where they were warmly welcomed and were given a lecture about the university. All project partners were introduced to distance learning statistics in Europe and Latvia. After lunch, everyone had the opportunity to explore the premises of the Baltic International Academy and learn more about the educational institution.

The project ended with a summary of the weekly project in Latvia and discussions about teaching methods, teacher work and workload, and discussed the development of distance learning in Latvia, Norway and Sweden. Also, the project’s most important point – improving the teaching of natural sciences – was discussed between project representatives. One of the problem situations that the Latvian representatives expressed was the reorganization of the Latvian education system into a system similar to Sweden and Norway. It was discussed how the new reforms could be taught in distance education and how teachers and administration could prepare for it. All of the representatives shared their experiences and recommendations on how to make science subjects more interactive for distance learning students.

At the end of the meeting, each country’s partners came up with ideas how to improve their e-learning environment and help guide the project forward.

Main topics discussed:

• Methods each school uses in teaching Natural science subjects in distance education;
• Is it interactive for students;
• How teachers create the study material;
• Ideas how to improve learning for adult students in distance education. How it can help Natural Science subjects;
• What can the teachers and administration do to increase the quality of Natural Science subjects;
• What the partners expect from the project.

Things that will be done and improved till next meeting:

• For Latvia – To improve and get feedback from students, make a plan or template of ‘’thought sharing’’ space under each subject, where students can write their feedback on the subject material or ask questions.
• For everyone – plan or already film a subject introduction video, to show the students what will be in the subject and what to expect.
• Plan how to fix and discuss next meeting ‘’how to find broken links in study materials’’ – important for interactive material.
• Look at interactive resources, simulations, to integrate in Natural Science subjects.

The second meeting of the Nordplus Adult 2017 project «Improvement of professional skills in teaching natural science subjects based on finding the best practices and acquiring new methods in distance education for adults» happened in Sweden, Kristianstad.

From the 15th till 19th January the Nordic open online Academy (NooA) representatives from Norway and Europe Distance Education Secondary School representatives from Latvia spent the week getting to know Kristianstad’s SE-Folkuniversitetet kursverksamheten vid Lund Universitetet and was working on the project.

On Monday, the participants from Folkuniversitetet welcomed Norwegian and Latvian representatives and presented an in depth presentation about their establishment and other European projects they have participated in, that could help not only this Nordplus Adult project but this project’s involved schools in their future projects and plans. After the presentation, the Latvian and Norwegian partners were introduced with Tisse, coach that works with refugees. Tisse talked more about the coaching and help he and his team gives to unemployed refugees and how they work together to form a study plan which usually consists of 50% on campus seminars and 50% of distance learning. It was very informative to all partner schools to learn new information and approaches to work with refugee students.

On Tuesday the participants were introduced with the disabled people workshops and participated in glass fusing workshop at Koncensus. Later on project representatives went to a tour around Kristianstad and with the help of their guide Eva Lundius explored the most interesting and popular places of the town. At the end of the tour, Eva together with Folkuniversitetet representative Asa introduced the rest of the project participants with the Senior University and their work with the ‘Open garden’ project.

On Wednesday, within the framework of the project, the Swedish, Norwegian and Latvian partners started to discuss the future of this project and went over Latvia’s meetings notes and started to come up with ideas and plans for what to create for this project. As we all gained more information and understanding of each project partner’s schools and their learning methods, it was easier to come up with a plan that we could realize and not only help the project participants, but other distance learning schools around Europe.

The main discussion focussed on going over the Collaboration points of the project and discussing the end result.

At the end of the day, the project partners visited Bromölla city’s Iföverkens Industrimuseum and gained more knowledge of the history of ceramic productions in Sweden and Europe.

Thursday morning started with a visit to Högskolan Kristianstad where the project partners were greeted by Lena Löfgren and Peter Åberg who work in science sectors of the university. Peter explained the distance learning courses the Högskolan Kristianstad has and how it works. It was a great experience to see new opportunities and uses of distance learning.

On Thursday, after Högskolan Kristianstad the discussion session continued. It was decided to make a Facebook (social media) page for the project, where every partner could post new information and share with other education institutions just as stated in the project Collaboration point. Also, the blog and new information posting in it was discussed and decided to share news not only on Facebook but continue with the blog. Latvian partners, as the project organizers, are responsible and will continue to update the project’s social media platform and blog.

It was decided that a livebinders.com would be a good way where to put all the information and project resources and share with other distance education schools. It was decided that the project partners will search open resources of materials that could help with the natural science subjects for teachers and students alike. The materials will be in Norwegian, Swedish, Latvian and English. Each partner was tasked to search materials in their own language and English as extra. The materials and results will be put in livebinders.com portfolio where everyone can access them.

One of the main discussion topics where questionnaires for teachers and students that will be sent out to their schools and other institutions. The quiz will be sent out and results gained over the February month. Each partner will send the questionnaires to their countries and their known distance education schools.

The project partners will have a video conference to talk over their gathered results on 2nd March and discuss the project’s last meeting in Norway that will happen from 16th till 20th April.

Main topics discussed:

• DENSS project’s Facebook page;
• The continuity of project’s blog;
• Teacher and Student questionnaires;
• Open resource and material search and result gathering;
• All the project result gathering in LiveBinders.com.

Things that will be done and improved till next meeting:

• The Latvian partners, as the project organizers will make and update DENSS Facebook page and blog;
• Every country’s partners will send out Teacher and Student questionnaires from 1st till 28th February;
• Every country will search open resource materials in their own language plus English;
• The Latvian partners, as the project organizers, will be responsible for LiveBinders.com profile and put the gathered open resources there;
• Video conference on the 2nd March to discuss the progress of the project.

The third, and last meeting of the Nordplus Adult 2017 project «Improvement of professional skills in teaching natural science subjects based on finding the best practices and acquiring new methods in distance education for adults» happened from the 16th till the 20th April in Kragerø, Norway.

From the 16th till 20th April the Kristianstad’s SE-Folkuniversitetet kursverksamheten vid Lund Universitetet  representatives from Sweden and Europe Distance Education Secondary School representatives from Latvia spent the week getting to know Kragerø, Nordic open online Academy (NooA), distance education in Norway and also was working on the project final details.

From 16th till 20th of April, 2018, within the framework of the Nordplus Adult project NPAD-2017/10140, Latvian and Swedish partners visited their Norwegian project partners Campus NooA in Kragerø.

After arrival on Sunday, Monday morning began with the first meeting in the new offices of Campus NooA during which the partners discussed the results of the students and teachers’ questionnaires. The aim of the questionnaires was to receive feedback from teachers and students in distance education, particularly about the material use and their preferences. The questionnaire also asked everyone to participate with their suggestions and ideas on how to improve the learning platform and available materials.

The partners discussed the results, offered suggestions and possible change implementation as well as further sharing of the results.

Questionnaires:

• for teachers: https://goo.gl/forms/C9b7EHw2uEVHPfEH3
• for students: https://goo.gl/forms/PbwioKsIlKgCbRdC2

The evening, after the discussions, was spent walking around the city and getting to know the history of Kragerø.

On Tuesday, the project partners began their morning with a ferry trip around Kragerø and enjoyed wonderful scenery along the coastline. After the trip, the partners met for a discussion seminar on Livebinders.com profile. The profile has been created as an open resource material, featuring different online educational materials, interactive tasks and links that can help students in their studies with natural science subjects. All the materials will be featured in Swedish, Norwegian, Latvian and English languages. Once the profile will be completed it will be shared with everyone for their free use.

During the second part of the day, the partners visited Kragerø learning centre that helps students of various levels (elementary, secondary, university) to complete their education or learn Norwegian language. The representative of the centre explained the main goals of the centre, the work activities and shared their experience.

After the discussions, the partners completed a hike to Sjøbadet viewpoint.

On Wednesday within the framework of the project, the partners had a wonderful opportunity to have a video conference with Frode Løbersli from »Virtual mathematics school».

During the video conference, we were introduced with the main goals of the Virtual mathematics school, as well as their work activities and further plans in helping secondary school pupils with the subject.

The second part of the discussion meeting was devoted to the project’s Livebinders. com profile, the assembled materials and the layout. The further progress and publishing of the profile was also part of discussion.

Later in the evening, the partners attended an informal opening ceremony for another project taking place in Kragerø – Kragerø Cowork (or KraCow). During the ceremony, we were introduced with the main goals and ideas of the project.

During the project meetings in Norway, the partners had a great opportunity to attend a video meeting with Pål Frønsdal from NDLA – Norwegian Digital Learning Arena, an online site that offers open educational resources aimed at secondary schools.

DENSS project partners were introduced with the structure of the project as well as their main goals, achievements and future plans. Norwegian Digital Learning Arena site (in Norwegian) – https://ndla.no/en.

After the video meeting we had a great opportunity to meet in person the headmaster of a vocational distance educational centre. We had a chance to discuss the planning of the educational process and the programmes offered.

After the discussion sessions, the partners had a chance to meet local pottery artist who introduced everyone with her craft and upcoming exhibitions.