Online Training Courses for E+ Youth Workers Erasmus Project

Project Title

Online Training Courses for E+ Youth Workers

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 youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Open and distance learning; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

“Online Training Courses for E+ Youth Workers” started from a small research we made, showing that some organisations have a very specific challenge: there are no proper tools available to train youth workers in youth programs, especially E+ in a specific and flexible timeframe. Also, there is a big fluctuation in the positions. In this field people are not staying for a long time, they are changing a lot because projects have a start and an end – plus there are breaks between projects and this is very much valid for youth exchanges. Somebody who is sent now as a leader will not be available again next month/year. To conclude, we have seen a need for a flexible training system to prepare youth workers in narrow fields of E+: EVS/ESC (mentors, facilitators), coordinators, leaders in youth exchanges.

The project involved 5 partners from 4 countries and resulted in the development of 4 innovative online courses, in 4 languages, for 4 positions in youth work and connected fields:
– e-course for project managers in E+ projects;
– e-course for the mentors in EVS/ESC;
– e-course for the facilitators in EVS/ESC;
– e-course for the leaders in youth exchanges.

The features of the project included the following characteristics:
MOOC-s – http://thecourses.eu – our products were Massive Open Online Courses with a special, innovative structure and hundreds of participants in all 4 languages. Considering the time allotted, we planned for 32-40 hours for each course, a recommended time for participants.
OER – the materials were offered as Open Education Resources.
E-BOOKS – for people interested in reading, the online courses had this possibility, of e-books, split in chapters/sections/pages with relevant images included.
E-GAME – very attractive digital games were created for each product with relevant learning objectives and a final survey to encourage reflection and comparison with the real world.
MOVIES/ANIMATION – special short films/animations were made for each chapter, in total 54 short videos.
TASKS – participants had various missions for each main chapter of every course.
SHARING – once the tasks were realised, participants had the chance to show it to their colleagues.
PEER EVALUATION – assessing other’s work;
VISUAL/GRAPHIC STORY TELLING – to support the e-learning process;
GAMIFICATION key elements: badges, levels, micro credentials, own pace progress bar, competition, choices, completion progress, ranking, points system, experience points, treasure hunt, e-game, story, missions, quizzes, etc.
KOLB learning cycle adapted for E-LEARNING purposes;
YW DIARY- own private area;
COMPLETION PROGRESS – a progress bar area where various colours showcase progress;
BADGES/MICRO CREDENTIALS – a detailed and complex system was prepared to encourage progress in learning. For each course we had special designed badges: Bag, Quill, Boots, Tunic, Helmet, Dagger, Jewellery Box, Gloves, Brooch, Spoon, Ink Pot, Cup, Wineskin etc.
CERTIFICATE – if the minimum requirements were met;
WEBINAR – for extra involvement;
MIND MAPS – summing up the relevant concepts in each course;
VIRTUAL COMMUNITY/ADVANCED LEVEL/NETWORKS – to go deeper in each subject proposed in the main course;
We establish as target groups people interested to be involved in youth exchanges, volunteering activities and generally educational projects in E+. The initial plan was to have 160 explorers in our courses with 80 graduating for each course but at the end, due to the high involvement of staff members and high interest coming from the participants, we have over fulfilled our planned indicators and objectives, as indicated below.
Therefore, we can say that the following new objectives were accomplished for the duration of the project, 34 months:
– At least 487 persons were familiarised with the project management field in E+ projects;
– At least 273 persons were familiarised with the mentorship area in EVS/ESC;
– Preparation of at least 295 persons as facilitators in EVS/ESC projects;
– At least 448 persons got basic competences as a youth leader in our online course;
– The creation of 4 non-formal networks – communities of practices for each course;

All in all, we had these figures considering explorers that enrolled to the general courses, navigating to all areas or only in some of them:
– Leader in Youth Exchanges: 2430;
– Facilitator in Volunteering activities: 1347;
– Mentor in Volunteering activities: 1230;
– Project manager in Erasmus Plus: 2285.

Our e-learning platform had, in terms of visits, the following total, of all the monthly key indicators for the entire period, 2018-2020:
– Unique visitors: 56.124;
– Number of visits: 95.065;
– Pages explored: 7,354,294;
– General visitors came from 159 countries and territories.

More than visits, in terms of people registered on the portal, we had a total of 5983 users that enrolled on the platform during the project. Users registered during the project period came from 114 countries.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 182852 Eur

Project Coordinator

S.C. PREDICT CSD CONSULTING S.R.L. & Country: RO

Project Partners

• CESIE
• ASOCIATIA MILLENIUM CENTER ARAD
• ASOCIACION MUNDUS – UN MUNDO A TUS PIES
• VISION 2020 LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE