FLIP-IDEAL – Flipped Learning in Adult Education Erasmus Project

Project Title

FLIP-IDEAL – Flipped Learning in Adult Education

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

In general, the flipped classroom methodology supports self-directed learning and has the potential of improving the quality of learning. However, this methodology can be challenging for adult educators with students who lack study skills, have literacy issues and/or have limited access to internet and technical facilities. This target group was our main interest as there was little existing material or guidance available on flipped learning in adult basic education context.

The aim of the project was to promote the use of flipped classroom methodologies in adult education, and to create engaging and accessible content for adult learners with low digital competences and/or basic skills. In the project we produced open learning material for adult educators on flipped learning.

In particular, the objectives included:
– To develop practical tools for increasing adult educators’ competences in implementing and adapting flipped classroom methodology when teaching adults learning basic skills
– To develop adult learners’ basic skills, particularly literacy, digital skills and independent learning skills through quality learning opportunities around blended and flipped learning
– To increase the strategic and integrated use of ICT in adult education, using tools such as virtual learning environments and games (eg. Seppo, Moodle, Edmodo)
– To develop Open Digital Badge process to recognise the professional development of adult educators in the area of flipped classroom and effective use of ICT in teaching of literacy, numeracy and basic skills
– To network and share experiences with European adult education partners on using flipped classroom in practice

ACTIVITIES
The learning, teaching and training (LTT) 4-day event benefited in total 27 participants ranging from second language teachers to vocational teachers and adult basic education teachers. Having these diverse target groups in each partner country allowed us also to change practices and ideas of how flipped learning can be adapted in different contexts to engage learners better. Partners shared their earlier expertise related to digital pedagogy and learnt new skills both through peer-learning and through external experts. The participants were accredited with an advanced level Open Digital Badge for their learning.

After the LTT event, the 27 adult educators trained continued and pilot their learning in practical teaching work. These piloting activities were central in the creation and development of the Intellectual Outputs of the project: participants developed short videos for the online course (IO2) and descriptions of good practice (IO3). LTT participants also organised internal training sessions in each partner organisation to tutor their colleagues on flipped learning.

Four Intellectual Outputs were developed to offer support for integrating flipped classroom approach in adult education.
– IO1, Theoretical context: explores the pedagogy behind the flipped classroom method and looks at ways to adapt flipped classroom method for the target groups of adults learning basic skills
– IO2, Online course for adult educators: presents cases and experiences from real-life on the use of flipped classroom with adults learning basic skills
– IO3, Good practice guidelines: offers guidance to create good quality content for flipped classroom purposes in adult education
– IO4, Open Digital Badge system: explains why and how to use Open Badges to accredit adult educators’ and learners’ skills and competences

RESULTS AND IMPACT
By training educators, developing project outputs and disseminating the learning resources created in the project, we have increased adult educators’ competence in implementing and adapting of the flipped classroom methodology for teaching adult learners basic skills (literacy, digital and learning to learn competences). The outputs provide educators with tools and approaches they can use for planning their lessons and delivering the content, and also increase awareness and knowledge of the challenges and benefits of using the flipped classroom methodology with adult learners.

The project has also increased understanding of how to capture and measure impact of learning and professional development through Open Digital Badges. In total 130 Open Badges “FLIPing the Adult Classroom” related to project results were released between December 2020 and February 2021.

Overall, the project reached:
– 27 adult educators (4+ from each partner) trained in the flipped classroom methodology
– 150 educators trained internally in our partner organisations
– 244 adult learners involved in the piloting phase, hundreds more later on
– Over 2300 stakeholders directly through project dissemination efforts: workshops, events or presentations
– Thousands of people through the FLIP-IDEAL website, national EPALE sites, e-newsletters, and social media

Project Website

http://www.flipideal.org

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 170094 Eur

Project Coordinator

Luksia, Municipal Education and Training Consortium in Western Uusimaa & Country: FI

Project Partners

• Stichting ROC West-Brabant
• CVO Antwerpen
• Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board
• Andragoski zavod Ljudska univerza Velenje
• FONDAZIONE MONDO DIGITALE