Opportunity
Sweden is experiencing a rapid expansion in the number of immigrants arriving in the past few years – more than 163,000 in 2016 in a population of 10 million. Familiarity with the language and knowledge of the culture are essential for inclusion, integration, and employment. Information and communication technologies can contribute to the multiple efforts underway towards integration, through their flexibility, ability to reach people all over the country, and serve a large number of immigrants.
Innovation
Professor Henrik Hansson in the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences at Stockholm University in Sweden suggested using online chats between immigrants and Swedish citizens to provide real-life opportunities for language practice and interpersonal communication. A preliminary study identified the essential contributions and elements of such a tool.
Consequently, two students in the Department, William Boman and Albert Jungselius, undertook, as their project for their Bachelor degree thesis, the development of an e-service to link immigrants and Swedes. Among the guiding principles for the tool Snackasvenska www.snackasvenska.nu (Chat in Swedish Now) are:
- Easy and informal as a way of communicating, which Professor Hansson describes as “start with a small chat”;
- Chat system offers video and audio links, supported by a translation facility so that participants can enter unknown words to be translated into appropriate language (using Google Translate);
- A list of possible topics for discussion to ease any awkwardness;
- Volunteers commit to ten minutes talk time so that demands are not onerous, but there are no time or frequency limits to the communications;
- Talk time is measured and there is the potential that volunteers would be awarded “lingo” points to be exchanged for merchandise at McDonald’s or elsewhere;
- Log-in is through Facebook, so there are profile pictures and names to limit participation by anti-immigrant groups;
- Immigrant participant can accept or refuse any suggested link to an individual; and
- A filter system allows participants to select gender of their communication partner.
Support for Thesis Completion and Quality: The development of this tool as a thesis project was supported by a broader initiative within the Department of Computer and Systems Science. Over seven years, multiple changes related to thesis completion were implemented to improve thesis quality and completion rates, several involving the use of technology in an initiative labelled SciPro:
- Clear and more detailed systems for grading and thesis review;
- Online tools for student preparation and support concerning research strategies, use of technology, and requirements for a thesis;
- Two Frequently Asked Question databases, one for students and the other for thesis supervisors, providing flexible and consistent access to information;
- A peer assessment process and checklists for self-assessment and progress tracking by students and supervisors;
- Improved efficiency in organizing key steps to thesis completion, such as the final seminar; and
- Effective and more varied online communication options.
The figure below illustrates the multiple aspects of this improved thesis preparation and review that are supported online.
Benefits and Outcomes
The Chat in Swedish Now tool was tested with students studying Swedish for Immigrants and new immigrants in Sweden, with positive feedback. The system is easy to use and to adapt for other language uses. The goal is to start with language learning and then progress to discussions about society and Swedish culture.
Support for Thesis Completion and Quality: The article cited at the end of this Pocket of Innovation details research on changes made to the thesis support process, highlighting the steady improvement in thesis quality accompanied by growth in the number of theses completed. Thesis supervisors’ productivity was also improved in terms of completed theses.
Challenges and Enhancements
Challenges for The Chat in Swedish Now tool include finding initial users – both the immigrants and the communication partners - and supporting continued involvement. Offering of incentives for participation for the volunteers is important.
Potential
The Chat in Swedish Now tool can be adapted for use in immigrant centres and agencies such as The Red Cross and in school settings to support student communication with immigrants for mutual learning. It is developed using a proprietary code but the developers are open to collaboration.
The Support for Thesis Completion and Quality initiative can serve as a model for other departments and institutions. Further research can better illustrate the unique contributions of each of the factors in the change model, including the contributions of the online support.
For Further Information
Henrik Hansson
Associate Professor
Department of Computer and Systems Sciences
Stockholm University, Sweden
[email protected]
William Boman
Recent Graduate, Bachelor of Computer and Systems Science
Stockholm University, Sweden
[email protected]
Albert Jungselius
Recent Graduate, Bachelor of Computer and Systems Science
Stockholm University, Sweden
[email protected]
Thashmee Karunaratne, Henrik Hansson & Naghmeh Aghaee (2017): The effect of multiple change processes on quality and completion rate of theses: a longitudinal study, Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, DOI: 10.1080/0969594X.2017.1303442
