SLIC

Sustainable Learning in the Community

Results of the research phase

Katharina Resch

Research Institute of the Red Cross

Research Phase

• 6 months initial research (Dec. 2007-May 2008)

• Aims:– Identify potential tools for workshops– Provide an overview in each country, which types

of tools exist to visualise and certify skills – Consult older people

in each country in interviews & group discussions

Part 1 – „ My competences“

formally and informally acquired competences

working life private life

family volunteering others

SLIC-WORKSHOP

skills profile

workshop design

working life retirement leisure time volunteering

action plan

certificate

Part 2 – „ My future plans“

What was done?

• Collection of relevant tools (workshop designs, skills profiles, action plans, certificates)

• 11 workshop designs• 10 skills profiles• 7 action plans• 6 certificates• = 34 recommended tools

• Consultations with 100 older people about needs and demands of a workshop

• Reporting• Results summarized in a draft workshop design

„Diverse perspectives“

• Perspective of older people– Active ageing = learning process– Looking for possible ways of

participation – Different motivations– Learning in the group– Learning in order to catch up with younger generation„I have five children who constantly use the computer. I

also want to do that. I went to a learning center and I am also teaching myself at home. (Female learner)

„Diverse perspectives on skills profiles“

• “The profile will not motivate [people] but there is a need for something that can encourage people”. (Older learner, Hungary)

• „A profile, if done sensitively, could reveal gaps that the person could be encouraged to develop.“ (Older volunteer, Scotland)

• “It would be very useful to face what we know. The training can help the participants to look back, summarize, release negative things and plan their future.” (Older learner, Hungary)

„Diverse Perspectives“

• Perspective of the organisations– Enlargement of target groups– Recognizing older people as a community

resource – NPO‘s as good places to learn if structures

and conditions are available (resources, valuing older people, etc.)

– Networking between organisations: How is participation of older people possible?

Interesting findings

• tools mainly geared at younger people that wish to enter or re-enter the labour market

• tools especially used with older people are new• workshop was regarded as useful by older

people• great interest in strategies to motivate others

mentioned by older people• clear objectives needed for the workshop• good mix of methods

Results

• short report from each country

• a European summary with do’s and don’ts

• concrete suggestions

for the workshop design

Publications

• www.slic-project.eu

• Resch, Katharina, Kellner, Wolfgang, Lehner, Erentraud, Hagauer, Stefan (2008): Realizing new potential for learning and engagement of older people - Overview of existing material and consultations with older learners. Vienna. Research Institute of the Red Cross

• Resch, Katharina (2008): Developing a workshop model to promote learning and engagement with older people. A transnational overview. Vienna. Research Institute of the Red Cross.

• Resch, Katharina; Strümpel, Charlotte (2009): Informelles Lernen und Möglichkeiten freiwilligen Engagements im Alter – Sichtbarkeit, Motive und Rahmenbedingungen. In: Zeitschrift Bildungsforschung 1/2009.