Individual and Distance Learning
Aims and objectives
The aim of the project was to create an online learning resource that could be shared across different learning groups and different cultures. The objective of the Project was for each Partner to design a learning module relevant to their level of expertise.
Activities and lessons learnt
The Partnership was formed to produce learning materials targeted at those individuals who did not enter established learning centres. The Partnership shared experience on how learning modules could be delivered to other European cultures. Each organisation designed a learning module targeted to their learner audience. The modules were tested on indigenous adult learners and with learners from the country who hosted each mobility meeting. A Learning Charter was developed that set out a service level agreement between learners and the host organisation. The Charter was an important document in that it ensured all learners would receive the same level of support through either distance learning or centre-based learning. Regular contact amongst Partners was maintained to continue sharing best practice.
Achievements
The main achievement was the creation of diverse learning modules that were hosted on a web site and it was accessible to learners cross Europe and beyond. The design of a Learning Charter was a major achievement in that Partners adopted the guarantee for their own learners outside the Grundtvig Partnership. Another major achievement saw the Project being launched in the European Parliament in June 2005. This exercise gave credence to the Project and demonstrated the value of European funding for the benefits of adult learners.
Materials produced
The end result was an interactive web site, www.european-step.org, that incorporated learning modules suitably pitched at different audiences wanting to increase their knowledge. Leaflets were produced in French and English and were disseminated across the Partnership. The learning modules on the web site include: -
 | Communication Skills |
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| Literacy Skills |
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| French for immigrants |
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| How to create e-mail |
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| Best Practice in applying for European Funding |
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| Sustainable Development exercises |
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| Cultural Awareness exercises |
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| How to cope with a Crisis |
Hard copies of the modules are also available for learners.
Partnership organisations/countries
The organisations and nationalities that made up the Partnership were as follows: -
Northern Ireland: Training Organisation
France: Lycée
Poland: Agricultural University
Lithuania: Adult Learning College
Romania: Teacher Training College
Spain: Women’s Centre
Belgium: Immigration NGO
Italy: Cultural Organisation
Learner involvement
The learners were core to the success of the Partnership and ultimately the end users of the learning modules. Once the modules were created they were initially piloted on indigenous (to host country that created the module) learners. Learners were then invited to evaluate the module on how the exercises met their needs. Feedback from learners helped shape the final content of each module. During each mobility visit learners were invited to test other Partners learning modules. This exercise proved invaluable for adapting layout, language and content of the modules to ‘fit’ with the varied learning styles. The learners involved in the Project included: -
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| Individuals with poor communication skills |
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| Prisoners with low levels of literacy |
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| Rural populations |
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| Learners with low levels of IT skills |
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| Student teachers whose first language was not English |
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| Women who felt socially excluded |
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| Turkish Immigrants |
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| Students who wished to increase their cultural knowledge |
Impact
On the organisation:
increased awareness of different adult learning
cultures
On our staff:
broaden horizons and provided an impetus to get involved in Projects that cut
across other learning styles
On adult learners:
increased their skills and knowledge
On external bodies:
demonstrated the quality of learning through the
effective use of EU funding
Contact details
Name, organisation and address:
Richard Henderson
North City Training
Bryson House
28 Bedford Street
Belfast
BT2 7FE
Telephone no.:02890 314666
Email: richard@nctni.com
Classification data
Project focus
| Active citizenship | |
| Essential skills | |
| Inter-generational learning | |
| Cultural/multi-cultural | |
| ICT and learning | X |
| Foreign languages | |
| Other* |
Project Type: Grundtvig 2 (learning partnerships)
UK project base
| East Midlands | |
| East of England | |
| London | |
| North East | |
| Northern Ireland | X |
| North West | |
| Scotland | |
| South East | |
| South West | |
| Wales | |
| West Midlands | |
| Yorkshire and the Humber |
