In February 2024 the Aalto University team of Tomi Kauppinen, Taija Votkin, Teresa Rizzi, Jutta Tavaila and Tuuli Metsäkoivu from the strategic project Online Hybrid Lab set out to share their design principles and best practices for creating engaging online learning through a workshop in Lisbon, Portugal. The participants were educators and professors at the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), the school of engineering and technology of the University of Lisbon.
Tomi, Head of Aalto Online Learning, has been actively involved in leading the co-design of creative and collaborative online learning environments within Unite!. Aalto Online Learning—Online Hybrid Lab is a strategic educational development project helping educators, faculty and staff in designing, producing and studying novel solutions, approaches and pedagogical models for online/hybrid learning at Aalto University and beyond. As a part of the workshop the Aalto team guided a hands-on session where an online 360 degree space with contents about IST was planned.
“360 degree learning environments facilitate visiting labs or workshop spaces online. This enables to learn about crucial aspects such as safety measures already before entering the physical spaces,”
The training also covered best practices of online learning course planning, a game session to ideate how augmented reality can enhance learning experiences and a hands-on session on podcast creation as an example. Feedback from the participants was very positive. Some of the most valued aspects were the innovative nature of the content, the diversity and quality of the training team and the chance to experiment with different teaching technologies. The workshop also facilitated the creation of a network of IST teachers interested in the same issues.
Aalto Online Learning—Online Hybrid Lab is actively discussing about future training needs and new projects with other Unite! partners. Next Tomi Kauppinen will be training on mastering digital collaboration tools at the upcoming blended intensive programme in KTH Stockholm in August, 2024.