Recognition of Experiential and Accredited Learning (REAL)

Project

Sarah Galloway (University of Stirling)Jackie Howie (Learning Link Scotland)

Project number: 527723-LLP-1-2012-1-UK-GRUNDTVIG-GMP

PartnersScotlandUniversity of StirlingLearning Link ScotlandScottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership

EstoniaTallinn University

IrelandLimerick University

RomaniaRomanian Institute for Adult Education (IREA)

Project Aims• To investigate ways in which the skills, knowledge and competences

of adult educators can be assessed and recognised across the varying national contexts within Europe

• To support adult educators so that they might have their experiential and informal learning formally recognised

• To place adult educators at the centre of the project and work with them throughout the its development

• To explore possibilities for ‘credit exchange’ systems so that adult educators’ experiential and informal learning might be recognised on a more general basis by national awarding bodies

What we have done

• Developed a prototype toolkit to support the recognition of adult educators’ prior learning

• Prototype developed in Scotland and reflects Scottish context for adult education

• Transferred the Scottish toolkit to European partners (Estonia, Ireland and Romania)

• Utilised European partners’ experiences of the Scottish Toolkit to develop a European Toolkit that might be helpful for adult educators across Europe

European contexts for adult educationWhat varies?

• Routes towards qualification and the level of the qualifications

• The existence and character of national standards for adult educators

• Processes and provision for RPL• The labour market is not uniform

Workplace trainer

Tutoring reading and writing to adults

Aerobics and yoga teacher

Teaching people how to bake bread

Giving study skills support to

mature students

Teaching sculpture and

painting in prison

Deliver sexual health workshops

to young adults

Train volunteer mentors

Tutoring languages to

refugeesInstructor in bicycle

maintenance and road safety

You?Your

learners?

Distance learning support in a

library

Community Centre

Charity

Library

Prison Trade Union

WorkplacePublic Sector

Private SectorNon-Profits

Your organisation?

Young adults

Adults with disabilitiesEx-offenders Families

Retired people RefugeesWorkers

Students

Trade Unionists

Tutor

Trainer

Educator

InstructorDevelopment worker

Teacher

Your job title?

Coach

European contexts for adult educationWhat is similar?

• How the Scottish Toolkit was designedNational Occupational StandardsPlacing adult educators at the centrePiloting the Toolkit

• The European toolkit

Scottish Toolkit : The context

Community Education (CLD)(Includes Adult Literacies)

Community Learning and Development Council for Scotland owns

National Occupational Standards and an RPL Process = i-develop

Further Education (FE)‘National Occupational Standards for

Lecturers in Scotland’s Colleges’ are set out.Teaching Qualification (TQFE) encouraged and course entry takes RPL into account

Adult EducationNo RPL process

Some routes to qualificationNo distinct identity

Some overlaps with CLD and FE

Adult Literacy EducationFormal routes to

qualification

Teaching English as a Second Language

Formal routes to qualification

Scottish Toolkit : the purposeFormative assessmentBy gathering evidence to be used for:• Making the case for entry to a college or university

course• Content of Job application forms and job interviews• Continuous Professional Development processes• Set goals to improve practice

Scottish Toolkit Design: Adult educators at the centreNational Occupational Standards

Lifelong Learning UK, (2006),‘Overarching professional standards for teachers, tutors and trainers in the lifelong learning sector’ http://www.et-foundation.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/new-overarching-standards-for-ttt-in-lifelong-learning-sector.pdf

National Occupational Standards for Adult Educators

Scottish Toolkit: Design: Adult educators at the centre

Values

REAL Toolkit – Scotland includes educational materials designed for adult educators

Design principleThe values understood and practiced by adult educators must be incorporated into the REAL toolkit design

V 1 LEARNER NEEDS AND GOALS Demonstrate commitment to the goals and aspirations of all learners and the experiences they bring to their education, ensuring that learners’ voices are heard and influence educational provisionV2 EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY Demonstrate commitment to the need for equality, diversity and inclusion in relation to learners, the workforce, and the community

V3 DEVELOPING YOUR OWN VALUESDemonstrate commitment to reflecting on, evaluating and challenging your practice, values and beliefs as an adult educator, with the aim of furthering the potential for education to transform lives

V4 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTDemonstrate commitment to taking up opportunities for professional development as a teacher and as an expert in own subject specialist area and its teaching.

V5 RELATIONSHIPS IN EDUCATIONDemonstrate commitment to building positive relationships with colleagues and learners in the interests of learners’ progress and development

V6 INSPIRATION AND ENTHUSIASMDemonstrate how learners might be inspired, motivated and have their aspirations raised through your enthusiasm and knowledge

Exercises to encourage adult educators to reflect critically upon what they have learnedScottish Toolkit: Design Adult educators at the centre

Reflective exercises to encourage adult educators to develop their own valuesScottish Toolkit Design: Adult educators at the centre

Exercises to support the writing of reflective accounts

Reflective accounts are recognised by the Scottish Credit and Curriculum Framework (SCQF)as a valid process for gathering evidence

Scottish Toolkit: Design Adult educators at the centre

Scottish Toolkit Pilot: Adult educators at the centreThe Pilot was run with Learning Link Scotland members

We had interest from 27 individuals

The participants were from organisations from across Scotland, for example:

•Voluntary Action Lochaber•Glasgow Women’s Library•Workers’ Educational Association•Pilton Equalities Project, Edinburgh•Cantraybridge College, Inverness

•Most tutors worked in community based settings but some were in prison and one was from the private sector.

Scottish Toolkit Pilot: Adult educators at the centre

At first I was reluctant to get on board. However by the end of the day I can see that this would be a great programme for people like myself who don’t see the value in what or how they perform at work, and being able to show that value in a physical format.

I see enormous potential in this. I think that my colleagues both in [name of company] and [name of company] may find it helpful to examine their own skills and experience as educators. I have found it personally useful in highlighting skills and experiences.

Scottish Toolkit Pilot: Adult educators at the centre

For me this toolkit has really made me think about and recognise what I have learned during my working life – much more than I had appreciated.

The toolkit would be useful to me as I have no qualifications in adult literacy (my current job!) and it would be useful to get recognition of my abilities and a measure of my level of skill. It would also help my CPD and force me to self-evaluate and encourage me to further my learning.

REAL Workshops, Edinburgh

Aim: To offer workshops to adult education tutors to help identify what they have learned from their practice and to represent this in ways that other people, including managers, employers and universities, might recognise and understand.

Method:• Workshop was conducted as an educational experience for adult educators

that might inform their continuous professional development (CPD).

Subsequently…We will keep in touch with the participants to explore what they want to do next.

REAL Workshops, Edinburgh32 tutors in Edinburgh expressed an interest in the workshops.They were from Edinburgh Council and voluntary sector organisations in Edinburgh.

They taught a range of subjects:LiteracyCooking

LiteratureHistoryMedia

NumeracyTai Chi

A range of languagesArt

Flower Arranging

REAL Workshops, Edinburgh

The knowledge, skills and understanding of tutors is very high.

Tutors teaching advertised paid classes also taught in free community based classes.

We explored ideas of vocational and non-vocational education.

Non had teaching qualifications for adult education apart from introductory tutor training or volunteer training courses.

The European Toolkit

The European Toolkit• Need to slot into range national systems of qualifications and standards for

adult educators• Tool for workshop leaders and mentors to support existing routes to RPL

REAL Toolkit(s) for Adult EducatorsAvailable on-line athttp://realrpl.eu/