O1: AdUp diagnostic tool
This output comprises the development of a diagnostic tool for assessing adult educators’ performance with regards to motivating and engaging adults in learning activities. The tool will be used by both: a) adult education providers, supporting them to assess their staff, and b) adult educators, enabling them to become aware of their strengths and weaknesses as concerns the theoretical aspects and practices of teaching and learning. As a result, adult educators will have the opportunity to pinpoint which of their areas of competence require improvement, and will thus be able to form an individualized development plan and proceed to the appropriate learning activities. Congruently, adult education providers, upon evaluation, will be able to aim for the targeted improvement of their staff’s competences.
O2: AdUp modular course
This output comprises the development of a modular course consisting of 5-6 learning units (modules) corresponding to the key areas of competence which will be identified in O1. Indicative areas of competence include effective communication, self-reflection, knowledge and use of different learning methods, styles and techniques as well as diversity awareness and management. Furthermore, attention will be given to 21st century skills (e.g. digital skills) including skills and competences for the delivery of online learning activities as well as emergency remote teaching.
O3: AdUp Massive Open Online Course
This output foresees the development of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), which will:
a. comprise the AdUp learning units and contextualized training and assessment materials produced in O2, in an online form (HTML/XML, PowerPoint presentations)
b. introduce additional educational resources (e.g. video units, work assignments, collaboration mechanisms, etc.), openly available to learners.
Adult educators will be able to complete the AdUp MOOC as a whole, as well as to study specific modules, following the use of the AdUp diagnostic tool, in order to address specific identified weaknesses, as part of their individualized development plan.
O4: Network of AdUp adopters
The purpose of this output is to promote and facilitate the valorization of project materials (diagnostic tool, modular course, MOOC) as best practices for assessing and improving the capacity of adult educators in terms of learners’ engagement and the integration of those materials into adult education practices. This output consists of three subsequent, interrelated activities: a) the creation of a Certificate Supplement (template), allowing the integration of adult education didactics competences, with a focus on learner motivation and engagement, into the EU certification schemes, b) the development of a sectoral recommendations paper to impact adult education providers’ approach to assessing and improving their workforce’s didactics competences and c) the composition and circulation of a Statement of Support and the creation of a network of AdUp adopters. The output will provide a new direction in the world of adult learning by contributing to the uptake of a novel integrated approach for adult educators, offering a combination of resources for the assessment and improvement of competences.