VALIANT
Virtual Innovation and Support Networks for Teachers
An Erasmus+ KA3 European Policy Experimentation
VALIANT
Virtual Innovation and Support Networks for Teachers
626134-EPP-1-2020-2-ESEPPKA3-PIPOLICY
Where does this project receive funding?
Erasmus+ KA3 (EACEA/38/2019): Priority 3 – Strengthening teacher training and education by using the opportunities of new technologies (School education)
Who is the lead researcher?
Robert O’Dowd, University of León, Spain (robert.odowd@unileon.es)
What is a European Policy Experiment?
European policy experimentations help to assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, potential impact and scalability of innovative policy measures through experimental or semi-experimental approaches. Three key actors in European policy experimentations are: the responsible public authorities, the researchers and the target groups.
What is the innovative policy measure being evaluated in this project?
The policy measure in this experimentation, Virtual Innovation and Support Networks, are defined as ‘Virtual Exchange programmes which bring together teachers, student teachers and experts in facilitated online collaboration around real-world educational issues’.
What will the VALIANT project do?
VALIANT’s first objective is to test the efficiency of Virtual Innovation and Support Networks as an approach which will contribute to overcoming teachers’ sense of isolation and low motivation in rural areas and isolated contexts and also to developing teachers’ ability to operate effectively in online international networks of professional collaboration.
The second objective of the experimentation is to test the efficiency of this form of Virtual Exchange for providing students of Initial Teacher Education with access to the realities of the teaching profession through regular interaction with in-service teachers integrated into their study programme.
The hypothesis is that integrating Virtual Exchange programmes into teacher training will provide the target groups (teachers in rural areas and student teachers) with opportunities for innovation, collaboration, digital and intercultural competence development and career planning which would otherwise be difficult to access in rural areas or in times of enforced isolation. They will also make the teaching profession more attractive to student teachers by engaging them in authentic learning and teaching scenarios.
What research methodology will be used in the experiment?
The experimentation will use a before-after comparison method with experimental and control groups. Quantitative and qualitative data will be triangulated to provide a comprehensive insight into the impact of these Virtual Exchange programmes on teachers’ motivation, their feelings of professional isolation, their career paths and their ability to activate digital and intercultural competences for international professional engagement.
The expected results will provide public authorities with clear evidence whether Virtual Exchange can contribute to rural teachers’ professional development, their ability to develop international networks and to overcome feelings of isolation.
How does VALIANT address problems which are facing teachers across Europe?
First, the OECD (2016, 2019) report that one of the main challenges to maintaining teachers’ motivation and enriching their professional experience is the professional isolation caused by lack of networking and collaboration opportunities with other colleagues and experts. The absence of comprehensive support environments is particularly common in rural areas in Europe but also exists in other contexts. In the context of COVID 19, the issue of teacher isolation has become more pronounced than ever as teachers find themselves with reduced access to networks of professional support which will help them deal with their new teaching context.
Second, there is a notable lack of collaboration and mentoring opportunities between in-service teachers and students of Initial Teacher Education even though this is considered a measure which would contribute to the profession’s attractiveness.
What is the timeline of the project?
Start date: 28 February 2021
Completion date: March 2024
How much funding has been awarded?
798.071,00 €