TIMELESS: Cultural Interpretation As A Non-Formal And Informal Learning Method In Adult Education Erasmus Project

Project Title

TIMELESS: Cultural Interpretation As A Non-Formal And Informal Learning Method 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 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Inclusion – equity; Teaching and learning of foreign languages; Cultural heritage/European Year of Cultural Heritage

Project Summary

The “Timeless” project is the result of the partners concerns about the lack of awareness on older adults’ participation in lifelong learning, social and cultural initiatives in their societies, and the implications it has for adult educators. Besides, the partners believe that it is crucial to promote initiatives launched in 2018, the Year of EU Cultural Heritage, and raise awareness about EU culture and heritage common values and principles and, at the same time, address major challenges in adult education, such as engaging of older learners in lifelong learning as well as the lack of foreign languages and digital competences among seniors. In this context, “Timeless”, will aim at enhancing professional development of adult educators working with older adults through new training opportunities leading to development of EFL learning materials based on cultural heritage in collaboration with adult learners. With such a goal in mind, the partners will count with the collaboration of experienced adult educators and motivated seniors who, together with the project team, will carry out all project activities. Carrying out the project transnationally will guarantee that, being the project priorities of EU concern, not only national communities benefit from the outcomes of the project, but also all developed products and materials reach out a wider audience.
The direct project target groups are adult educators (teachers, mentors, etc., especially those working with older learners) and seniors/ older adults. Indirectly, “Timeless” will involve numerous national and international stakeholders: educational centres, organisations active in the field of adult education, bodies involved in culture and heritage activities (NGOs, civic organisations, libraries, etc.); policy makers in the field of education and culture/heritage (public bodies staff, managers and heads of departments, etc.)
“Timeless” envisages the development of three main Intellectual Outputs:
IO1: Interactive database for adult educators
IO2: Development and delivery of a blended course for adult educators
IO3: Development of a Digital Book “Hidden Culture”: teaching/learning materials developed by older learners in EFL and recommendations for adult educators
The partners will create an interactive database for adult educators with two main sections. The first will be a database of EU good practices and initiatives which will take advantage of using cultural and intercultural materials in teaching foreign languages and IT to older learners. The second part – “Inclusive Culture Classroom Guide” – will address the issue of social inclusion of older adults and promote equity and non-discrimination as well as make learning offers and environments accessible to seniors. Then, an online course for adult educators will be elaborated, deployed (including a face-to-face learning activity), and adapted to a blended learning format so that adult educators can pilot it in partner communities. The participants of the course will then monitor the work of informal groups of older learners who will develop (1) an Art-and-Culture Dictionary, (2) “Hidden Culture” Digital Book, (3) artistic pictures to illustrate the book. Through this collaborative process, older learners supported by adult educators will prepare EFL materials for their English classes tailored to their needs and interests that can be used in other adult education centres working with seniors. In its turn, adult educators will enhance their knowledge on instructional design in informal and non-formal EFL learning environments and social inclusion of older learners. Based on the experience acquired and results obtained within these stages, the partners will elaborate recommendations for adult educators on how to use effectively the developed materials in informal and non-formal learning of seniors.

The learning materials tailored to the needs of older learners and developed by them together with adult educators will promote participation and persistence of older learners in lifelong learning and also improve their digital, linguistic and intercultural skills. This partnership aims to identify and develop new and innovative ways to combine the above stated working fields in order to create educational materials and methodologies leading to the improvement of teaching competences of adult educators and triggering of older learners’ motivation for learning. In this way, “Timeless” will support during and after the project the extension of professional competences of adult educators and, at the same time, try to reduce disparities among older adults in access to lifelong learning. Finally, the project will raise appreciation of local and common European heritage, increase cultural awareness, foster intercultural dialogue through interpretation of common European patrimony in the context of non-formal and informal adult education.

Project Website

http://eutimeless.info

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 156685 Eur

Project Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF USAK & Country: TR

Project Partners

• EUROGEO VZW
• NIKANOR LTD
• DOMSPAIN SLU
• Slovenska univerza za tretje zivljenjsko obdobje, zdruzenje za izobrazevanje in druzbeno vkljucenost
• Foundation for Education and Innovation “Zini”