The Adult Education Practitioner Training in Lithuania

by the Lithuanian National Project group


The Aim of the Programme

  • To provide knowledge of adult learning from theoretical, practical and organisational points of view;
  • To provide possibilities to train skills necessary for an adult educator;
  • To help people to prepare to pass the requirements of the Criteria for Adult Educator approved by Learning 4 Sharing Project.

Size of the Group

12–16 participants.

Duration of the Program

2 training sessions, each for 30 hours.

Responsible Organisation

Lithuanian Association of Adult Education.

The Content of the Programme

Adults and Adulthood – the Main Aims for Different Life Stages. 4 hrs
Rationale for the topic
Adult educator should know the main aspects of adulthood, as different stages of development raise different aims for life and job. Due to the difference of those aims, learners have great variety of motives towards learning. Knowing it means caring about their needs.

Knowing Yourself and Reflection Skills Development. 4 hrs
Rationale for the Topic
In order to teach others, adult educators should be people with appropriate skills in reflecting upon learned/taught things. Knowing yourself means being closer to your personality, this closeness could be reached with the aid of reflection skills. Reflecting upon oneself, one’s work and life could help a person to grow both as a personality and as a professional. In that sense, reflection skills are crucial for development.

Similarities and Differences between Andragogy and Pedagogy. 6 hrs
Rationale for the Topic
This topic is an essential theoretical part for the programme. To gain an understanding of the differences between andragogy (adult education theory) and pedagogy is necessary for the further development of an adult educator. This theoretical background makes it easier for an adult educator to choose appropriate training methods and learning strategies.

Criteria for an Adult Teacher. 4 hrs
Rationale for the Topic
To know the criteria and understand the requirements needed for an adult educator is essential as applicants will be asked to demonstrate knowledge and to prove expertise in relation to the criteria. The whole set of criteria is examined within the framework of this topic.

Experiential Learning – David Kolb and his Learning Cycle. 4 hrs
Rationale for the Topic
David’s Kolb’s experiential learning cycle is a right model to help learners gain a deeper understanding of how adults learn in practice. All four learning stages will be discussed in great detail.

Motivation for Learning. 4 hrs
Rationale for the Topic
Practical aspects of finding inner and outer learning motives for adults are discussed and analysed. Special emphasis is laid upon the link between proper training needs analysis and motivation for learning.

Learning / Teaching Methods. 8 hrs
Rationale for the Topic
This topic provides as broad a variety of training / learning / teaching methods as possible in order to supply the adult educator with the most flexible tools for training / learning programme provision.

Compilation of the Programme. 8 hrs
Rationale for the Topic
A methodology of training / learning programme compilation is provided. The topic will be examined in more practical way than any other, as participants of the programme after theoretical input will be asked to compile their own training programme (or parts of it).

Programme Presentation. 10 hrs
Rationale for the Topic
Each participant of the programme will present his/her programme (actually – will run it). Each presentation will be taped on video and afterwards examined at group and individual level. The aim of this topic – each adult educator should pass video training which would enhance his /her presentation and audience management skills.

Giving and Getting Feedback and Debriefing Skills. 6 hrs
Rationale for the Topic
A large part of this topic is integrated into the previous topic – programme presentation – as participants will be asked to provide feedback upon presented programmes. But besides this skills training part, theoretical input and case studies on feedbacking and debriefing will be provided and examined.

Management of the Audience. 4 hrs
Rationale for the Topic
This topic also is an integral part of two previous topics, as most difficult audience management cases will be examined during feedback of the presentations. But the most common mistakes and difficulties will be discussed beforehand in order to enhance learning.

Self Guided Learning – Diary Method. 6 hrs
Rationale for the Topic
Diary method will be presented in a more practical way as the method will be used during the whole programme. Programme participants will be asked to write a learning diary during the whole training period using the scheme which will be presented and explained at the very beginning of the programme.

Self-Guided Learning – Time Management for Learning. 2 hrs
Rationale for the Topic
This is the very last topic of the programme and the aim of it is to provide programme participants with some practical time planning tools in order to support their further learning. In other words, this could be called the first step into a lifelong learning environment.


Final Comment

This programme is not compulsory for those who want to meet the requirements of the Criteria for an Adult Educator. It is an optional one which will obviously help a lot, as the programme has been compiled in accordance with the requirements for passing those Criteria.

 

 

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