Edu2grow

Topic/ theme: non-formal education methods to improve the learners’ motivation, activities and tools in the formal environment

 At your request, the courses can be structured for a different schedule (5 or 7 training days).

Sending partners: educational organizations involved in formal, non-formal and informal learning: schools, adult training centers, resource centers and other relevant organization active in the adult education field established in Erasmus+ program countries.

 Participants: 20-25 adults involved in education

Course fee: According to the Erasmus+ guide, 80 euros / training day, including course preparation, training, training materials, administration costs, organizational costs, 24 hours emergency support.

Trainers:A multinational team of trainers – Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Greek, Cypriot, Italian,Polish, SALTO affiliated, with training in more than 15 European countries.

Languages used: English, Portuguese, Spanish, French. The training materials will be provided in English. On request, Spanish and French.

Profile of the participants: The participants are teachers or adult trainers active in the sending organization interested in non-formal education methods, with or without previous experience, willing to develop themselves professionally not only through the course, but by involving themselves in preparatory and follow up activities. They must be interested in other cultures and in developing the institution’s European dimension.

Objectives:

– To develop competences regarding applying non-formal education in different formal settings in order to improve the motivation of the students

– To stimulate the participants to feel and reflect about the power of Non-Formal Education (NFE) by experimenting different kind of non-formal educational methods

– To explore meanings, roles and complementary of different educational dimensions (formal, non-formal, informal).

– To share best practices and transfer knowledge and methods between different cultural zones and different learner ages

– To develop tools (a guide, a digital game etc.) about ways of applying non-formal education in the formal environment for different age groups

– To enable participants in non-formal activities and techniques for their own teaching context in order to improve the motivation of their students, and to reconsider daily education-work practices

– To increase participants’ confidence in working with non-formal methods, using their own qualities, talents, differences, as well as the collective intelligence of the home team they will guiding in the valorisation process

– To promote European cooperation in the field of education within the framework of the Erasmus+ program by partnership building

Learning outcomes:

By participating in this training course, the participants will:

– develop competences regarding applying non-formal education in different formal settings in order to improve the motivation of the students

– learn how to stimulate use about the power of Non-Formal Education (NFE) by experimenting different kind of non-formal educational methods

– explore meanings, roles and complementary of different educational dimensions (formal, non-formal, informal).

– share best practices and transfer knowledge and methods between different cultural zones and different learner ages

– learn how to develop tools (a guide, a digital game etc.) about ways of applying non-formal education in the formal environment for different age groups

– take part in non-formal activities and techniques for their own teaching context in order to improve the motivation of their students, and to reconsider daily education-work practices

– have better confidence in working with non-formal methods, using their own qualities, talents, differences, as well as the collective intelligence of the home team they will guiding in the valorization process

– learn how to promote European cooperation in the field of education within the framework of the Erasmus+ program by partnership building

 Methodology

Most of the educational approaches are inspired from constructivist pedagogy. The training course has a holistic approach:

• Experiencing: different educational settings, different non formal education methods (role play, simulation game, exercises etc.)
• Reflecting: on the methods and its impacts, on the power and limits of non-formal education, on building a pedagogical process etc.
• Transferring: to the own reality of participants, in order to improve ways of working with their students
• Sharing: different perceptions, current situations and experiences.
• Developing: the building capacity of the participants (to be transferred to their students) by including them in the decision process of the training course designing
• Multiplying and sharing:lessons learnt and best practices on non-formal education in school activities

Daily schedule

Days	Module	Details of activities and methodology
Days 1,2	Culture and interculturality	Course introduction  Needs and expectations evaluation Intercultural games. Working in an international project – how to communicate and connect. Team building: working with colleagues and parents – practical exercises followed by a debate. Stereotypes and prejudices in the classroom. Cultural Isla – project tour exploring exterior manifestations of culture
Days 3,4	Communication	​Communication (assertive, aggressive, passive). Adapting communication to the age group. Games for improving communication. Non-verbal communication in the work environment and in the classroom. Basic concepts and principles about non-formal education Learning and practicing speaking and role-play games Practicing, designing and delivering non-formal activities and tools
Days 5, 6	Group dynamics.	Intra and inter group dynamics. Tools for working with groups, group building activities. How to foster students’ motivation, participation and creativity through non-formal, informal and experiential learning activities Practicing, designing and delivering non-formal activities and tools Non-Formal methods to strengthen teamwork and effective cooperation Midterm evaluation
Days 7,8	Education methods (formal, non-formal, informal)	Study visit to a local institution applying non formal education methods. Dissemination of previous European projects applying non-formal and informal methods made by all partners. Research project followed by role play: Salto: choose a method and apply it! Creativity methods in the class room. Exploring the urban landscape – Isla as an outdoor education resource.
Day 9	Evaluation, dissemination and certification	Dissemination and valorization activities planning. Using European certification tools: Europass Mobility certificate, upgrading the Europass Language Passport and Europass Skills Passport. Project evaluation.Certification ceremony.