The Lithuanian Way.
What we have Achieved during the Project L4S

by Roma Juozaitiene, Lithuanian National Project group

From the very start of the project, the Lithuanian National group had a clear idea about the main outcomes of the project – to have a set of criteria for adult teacher-practitioners and to develop the procedure and content for passing the requirements of the criteria.

In order to achieve this goal we needed not just to have a set of criteria (which actually was more the responsibility of the CREE group) but we also had to try out the possible curriculum for the adult teacher practitioners. For this reason, the training element during the whole span of the project time was essential. Besides, we thought that there is not enough just to have a core-group of 8 participants as it would be a very narrow scale for trying out the curricula. For this reason we organised two groups of participants in Lithuania: the core group of 8 people and the background group of 12 people and even more – by the end of the project (in July 2002) we had created the third group of 27 people. More of this later.

Project Stages

Firstly, there were 2 sessions of preparatory training for all participants in the project, during which the core group was created and the main introduction topics were discussed. Aims for this step – to form the core group and to try out the main theoretical background for adult teacher training. Each training session took 3 days.

Secondly, the core group members (after the Viljandi course) were asked to choose topics for professional growth (it was discussed during a two-day event for core group members) and a five-day video training session took place. Aims for this step – to develop and run the programs and to train feedback skills.

Thirdly, to develop core group members’ skills in word processing upon gained experience. In other words, a five-day training activity session was devoted to training skills in structuring gained experience. Aim for this step – to develop personal reflection skills upon professional development.

Fourth, to disseminate gained experience during the project for people who could become “change agents” of project ideas within the Lithuanian adult educators community. As mentioned, this event took 5 days.

Beside those major steps in working with core and background groups, within the Lithuanian project the National steering group worked as well. Main discussed topics during work of National steering group:

• To appraise a situation of adult teachers’ education in Lithuania;
  
• To work on good a adult education criteria list – to adapt it to a Lithuanian context;
  
• To approve this list and adult teachers’ accreditation procedure in Lithuania;
  
• To work for development and dissemination of the project in Lithuania;
  
• To ensure sustainability of the project in Lithuania.

Here is an overview of the major dates in the project from the prospect of Lithuanian core group members and events which have taken place in Lithuania (international activities are known to everybody), as they were really “the core” within our project:

Pre-course, Session 1, 29 November – 1 December, 2000
Introduction to the project. Main topics: adult education theory, adult teaching/learning methods, learning in teams work. Aims for the step – to give participants the basis for future development, to form core group.

Pre-course, Session 2, 21–23 February, 2001
It was the second session of pre-course – a preparatory session for the Viljandi International seminar. The programme was compiled in accordance with the needs of the course participants, expressed in the first session. A contract on the commitments of participants and the course leader was signed. Main topics in the programme: criteria for good adult educator, learning methods, case analysis, presentation skills, self-esteem development, adult education in Lithuania today, motivation of adults for learning, active and passive classes, ice-breakers. Aims for the step – to go into the greater detail on adult teacher training and core group preparation for Viljandi course.

National Steering Group Meeting, 8 March, 2001

International Training Course in Viljandi, April – May, 2001

Preparation for Sharing, 28–30 September, 2001
After coming back from Viljandi, core group members and 3 volunteers from the background group participated in a consultation seminar in Vilnius. This was preparatory training for the next session of the whole group of participants. The main discussion dealt with the programme of the next training session in Druskininkai – topics, contributions of each core group member, methodology of the seminar. Main topics in the programme: reflections on Viljandi course, facilitator and consultant, analysis of andragogical publications, compilation of the programme of the third session, modules of the programme. Aim for the step – preparation for training programmes launch.

Training the Colleagues, 22–26 October, 2001
This was the first session of real sharing of course participants. Programme, developed in consultation seminar was implemented by core group participants and course leaders. Main topics in the programme: facilitator and consultant, roles of teacher and student (Vitas Gricius – Core group participant, CGP); communication skills (Vidutė Ališauskaitė– CGP); active teaching methods (Algimantas Antanaitis – CGP); project method (Ona Stašaitienė– CGP); distance learning (Edita Kalendienė– CGP); adult education in Scandinavia (Reda Latožaitė– CGP); practitioner-researcher (Rūta Navickaitė and Algis Janonis – CGP). All presentations were filmed and feedback from participants and course leaders was given to presenters. The seminar was very good practice for the core group. The background group treated the presentations of their colleagues as good practice for both sides as well. Aim for the step – to train trainers’ skills.

Mid-way Evaluation of the Project, 10 December, 2001
National steering group and external expert.

National Manual Writing, 18–21 December, 2001
This was a special session for writing the National Manual. Each member of the core group was working on his/her contribution to the publication – chosen topic. The content of the workshop was: computer skills development (some participants were not good enough at using IT!); work with Internet; structure of manual; writing of the text; consultation, presentation of work done during the workshop; preparation for the meeting at NFA. Participants in the workshop treated this seminar as a special one – for all of them it was the first time they had worked in this way. At the end of the workshop they came to some conclusions concerning this experience: it is important to write what seems very concrete and important to yourself – you can be successful, don’t try to be extremely “clever”, be natural, you have an opportunity to correct your text in the future, don’t postpone your writing – try to do it “here and now”, it is important to know (to discuss) the concept and structure of the whole publication, writing helps to “learn your knowledge”. At the end of each day participants wrote a diary (see Lithuanian part on the experience of writing a diary).

International Meeting at NFA, 4–9 January, 2002

Study Visit to Denmark, 10–12 January, 2002
Course leaders visited Denmark adult teacher training institutions.

International Training, 25–30 June, 2002
This was the first international training in Lithuania. Topics – distance learning and work with the audience. Trainers from Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania presented their topics and our participants provided feedback to them. Presenters were filmed and video materials were examined also. Aims for the event – to share international training experience, to give and to get feedback on training event.

Dissemination Seminar, 8–12 July, 2002
At mentioned, the course was organised for new 25 adult teachers in order to create a broader base for adult teacher training and an assessment module in Lithuania. During the course such topics already chosen for the curricula were discussed with participants: adult teacher criteria, andragogy and pedagogy; teaching/learning methods; principles of curriculum development; training programme presentation skills; difficult cases in adult classes. Aim for the event – to try out the basis for adult teacher development, to develop a larger adult education community involved in the ideas of L4S.

International Training Sessions (in Latvia, Estonia), October, 2002

International Training, 8–13 October, 2002
This was the second international training session in Lithuania. Topics – civic education (minority teaching, activating community). Trainers from Sweden, Estonia, Lithuania presented their topics and our participants provided feedback to them. Presenters were filmed and video materials were examined also. Aims for the event – to share international training experience, to give and to get feedback on the training event.

National Steering Group Meeting, November, 2002
Discussion of criteria measurements and procedures.

International meeting at NFA, 5–7 December, 2002
And lastly, we would like to share something about the Lithuanian Manual. From our point of view this document should be seen as a support pack for everyone who is going to measure his/her own professional level as an adult educator against a set of criteria which was developed during the project. For this reason the structure of the manual should comprise:

A set of criteria for adult teachers
In the manual there will be a detail description of each criterion and its measurement. Information as to why those criteria are important will be provided as well.

Criteria assessment methods and tools.
The Lithuanian Association of Adult Education is going to be the organisation carrying out the measuring procedure. That’s why the methods and tools for assessment are very important.

National procedures for the assessment.
In this part, application forms and terms and the process of assessment will be described.

Recommended curricula for adult teachers.
As discussed above, criteria are based upon certain curricula. Actually, in our manual this is not the main part of it, but the curricula will be outlined and training courses and methods will be suggested.

Parts of curricula, compiled by core group members.

As core group members during the whole project get the greatest development experience, we think that the final part of the manual should be their sharing with those who wish to step onto the adult teacher criteria path, – parts of the programme, success stories and learning points will help those newcomers.

That is the Lithuanian way to develop practitioner adult teachers. We believe it will lead people to success.
Every project has something to learn and this project was special. We, project leaders in Lithuania, learned a lot. Our learning points could be grouped as follows:
Teachers can learn. All our participants are teachers and sometimes people who teach others can’t be easily taught. But our experience says the opposite the personal and professional growth of the participants was obvious. In such a long project it was a chance to observe this process very closely.
Video training is crucial. We discovered just how powerful this method is. Our participants were filmed several times and we had a unique chance to observe a gradual change in their professionalism. People themselves also stressed the impact this had on professional development.
A diary as a tool for self-reflection. We believed in the diary method, but it gave us great pleasure to see just how participants accept-ed it.
Criteria are essential but measurement procedure even more so.

Concluding our participation in the project we formulated what had helped us in it. We called these conclusions criteria for success:

• Commitment towards goals is achievable through our participation in decisions, – we arrange it;
  
• People learn more effectively through self-analysis, – the diary helped us;
  
• Discipline helps to organise work. It is necessary for success in any work. But only discipline fosters terror. That is why clear goals are measures for the separation of dictatorship from an effective management, which was one of the main organisational achievements in our project. We did it!

Contents   |   Next..