Learning with technology - resources to help staff and volunteers use technology in their learning activities.

The project aimed to improve the learning experiences of adults undertaking informal adult learning by raising the skill level of paid and unpaid learning enablers to use technology effectivley in their programmes.

The project started with a training needs analysis followeed by a period of resource development, expert review and trialing through a pilot group in January 2010. Feedback from the pilot was incorporated in the final set of resources.

The work was intended to benefit adult learners by raising the competence and confidence of those who support their informal learning activities.

In addition to trained teaching staff the Learning Revolution white paper recognised the following groups of potential users of this resource:

• paid staff other than teachers, whose role includes delivery and enabling of learning, such as health workers and museum staff
• leaders and facilitators of self organised groups such as U3A, book groups and allotment societies
• outreach workers, such as learning ambassadors, community learning champions and digital mentors.

Following completion of the resources, they were referenced as widely as possible in other resources produced as a result of the Learning Revolution.

We monitored the need for additional materials to take account of emerging new applications of technology for informal learning. For this we took account of innovative activites from the Learning Transformation fund and other imaginitive informal learning projects.

We learned from participants at the pilot delivery phase that the inclusion of at least some face to face training wass a key ingredient in the successful deployment of these resources.

The work demonstrated to policy makers of informal learning activities that there are effective methods of training staff and volunteers to make best use of digital technology in their programmes. This impact will be reinforced if an ongoing support programme can be provided.

chips@niace.org.uk

+44 (0) 116 204 4200