IDEAL – Integrating Digital Education in Adult Literacy Erasmus Project

Project Title

IDEAL – Integrating Digital Education in Adult Literacy

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 2015

Project Topics

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

Project Summary

CONTEXT/BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
The world around us is increasingly digital. This is reflected in the current definition of literacy which identifies listening, speaking, reading, writing, numeracy and using everyday technology to communicate and handle information as key elements of basic skills required by every citizen. However, presently one out of four adults in Europe lack the necessary digital skills, impacting not only person’s opportunities in education, employment and community, but also the society and economy at large.

To address this issue, six partners across Europe came up with the project IDEAL – Integrating Digital Education in Adult Literacy. The project focused on improving the digital skills of adult educators who work with disadvantaged groups and low skilled adult learners in all contexts. The main emphasis was on improving the employability, vocational learning and community learning of the low skilled adult learners. Consequently, the indirect target groups were post-18 students at risk of exclusion including immigrants, early school leavers, unemployed people, people with special needs and people with literacy and numeracy difficulties.

NUMBER AND PROFILE OF PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
The project team included partners from six different countries: Finland, Ireland, Norway, Belgium, The Netherlands and Italy. Five of the organizations are adult education providers and one partner is an NGO. All partners brought specific competencies in the project.

OBJECTIVES
The main overall objective of the IDEAL project was to provide guidance and training for adult educators across Europe on how to use ICT tools and digital methods to better deliver basic skills education. This was done through an integrative approach in collecting, sharing and disseminating innovative and inclusive teaching and learning practices using ICT tools and digital methods.

DESCRIPTION OF MAIN ACTIVITIES
Project included three types of main activities: developing four Intellectual Outputs to provide guidance and training for adult educators and share the existing pedagogical know-how of partner organizations; organizing two 5-day learning workshops in Finland and Italy; and organizing two multiplier events in Finland and Italy. During and after the project, project team jointly and all partners individually executed communication and dissemination activities. The project team also established an effective quality and evaluation system for ensuring proper monitoring and evaluation of the project management and its results.

The intellectual outputs developed within the project include an Online Toolkit with Context and Needs analysis, Good Practice Guidelines and Video Tutorials. All Intellectual Outputs are available online at www.erasmusideal.com and will be integrated in the learning programs in the partner organizations.

RESULTS AND IMPACT ATTAINED
The IDEAL project team explored what kind of skills are needed in different contexts and how teachers’ competencies could be developed by sharing knowledge, experiences and good practices. Project products include materials and teaching activities for adult educators shared through online toolkit, workshops and seminars.

As a result of the project, teachers and trainers have become more skilled and confident in integrating innovative digital methods in their everyday teaching context, including multimedia application, the use of video, virtual learning environments, social media and gaming. Through the online toolkit developed in the project, teachers across Europe have access to quick and easy booklets and video guides on how to teach literacy and numeracy using ICT.

Project results include:
– 52 people participated in the 5-day learning workshops in Finland and Italy, increasing their knowledge, understanding and skills in using ICT in basic skills teaching
– 144 external participants in the two multiplier events in Finland and Italy
– 2632 visitors at the IDEAL website until 31 August 2017
– More than 500 people reached internally and approximately 3,000 people externally through dissemination events, information sessions and workshops

LONGER-TERM BENEFITS
Partner organizations report about major improvements in their practices related to digital integration in learning, teaching and training. The project has not only developed the competences of individual adult educators, but has also helped to ensure that strategic choices have been made in partner organizations regarding staff training plans or purchasing of ICT equipment.

Participants continue to share their learning through internal and external dissemination, for example by leading workshops and communicating the results to the project target groups.

This strategic partnership project also created an active European network of adult education teachers and trainers that will continue to be exploited in future cooperation projects.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 197387 Eur

Project Coordinator

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

Project Partners

• SCHOLENGROEP 1 ANTWERPEN
• FONDAZIONE MONDO DIGITALE
• Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board
• Arendal Voksenopplæring/Arendal Adult Education Centre
• Stichting ROC West-Brabant