Comenius Netword training
Saturday 4th October, 2008. Comenius Netword training with Comenius North West at Dallam School, Milnthorpe LA7 7DD. Contact: Linda Newman l.newman@dallam.co.uk
15 October. Comenius Netword forum meeting with Comenius West Midlands. Wolverhampton Adult Education Service. Contact: H.harnisch@wlv.ac.uk
Saturday October 18th, 2008. Comenius Netword forum meeting with Comenius North East at Gosforth High School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Contact: Ondra.nicholson@durham.gov.uk
Saturday 8th November, 2008. Comenius Netword forum meeting with Comenius East Midlands at Comenius East Midlands, Quorn, Leicestershire. Contact: netword@comeniusem.org.uk
Saturday 15th November. 2008. Comenius Netword training with Comenius South East at Comenius South East, University of Southampton contact: Zena Martyn
Saturday February 28th, 2009. Comenius Netword forum meeting with Comenius East Midlands at Comenius East Midlands, Quorn, Leicestershire. Contact: netword@comeniusem.org.uk
Saturday March 7th 2009. Comenius Netword training event with West Sussex adult education service. Contact: Jill Bamber
Shaping the way ahead
Shaping the way ahead was the title of a DIUS (Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills) consultation into informal adult learning. DIUS defines informal adult learning as: “structured or unstructured part-time non-vocational learning which does not lead to qualifications…This kind of learning activity can take place anywhere – in a local college, community, centre, pub or on the North Yorkshire moors. It embraces all kinds of activity ranging from family learning, sports and recreation to the art, humanities and foreign languages.” (Informal adult learning - Shaping the way ahead January 2008 DIUS)
The consultation paper was designed to stimulate debate and shape future government policy. The consultation closed on June 12th 2008 and the report of findings will be published during the autumn on the DIUS website (www.adultlearningconsultation.org.uk), to be followed by a White Paper before Christmas.
Participation in learning, the latest news from NIACE (National Institute for Adult and Continuing Education)
The 2008 NIACE survey of adult participation in learning in the UK shows that participation by groups targeted in the government’s learning and skills strategy has fallen.
Several key groups have been affected disproportionately: skilled manual workers; fulltime and part-time workers; and 25–34-year-olds. There has been no increase at all over the last ten years in participation by those in socio-economic groups DE, the semi-skilled and unskilled workers, unemployed and retired people.
These findings pose sharp challenges for government. The very groups identified as key to the achievement of the Skills Strategy and in the Leitch Review are bearing the heaviest burden of the re-balancing of funding.
Speaking at CILT’s adult education show in June, Peter Lavender, Director for Research, Development and Information at NIACE confirmed that a decline in the offer of language learning would be one of the outcomes of the drastic fall in participation.
www.niace.org.uk/Publications/C/CountingCost.asp
CALL, the Campaigning Alliance for Lifelong Learning, will be launched on September 30th involving NIACE and a large number of organisations involved in adult learning. www.niace.org.uk/CALL/default.htm
Learning is good for you
The Centre for the Wider Benefits of Learning is researching the connections between health and education in the lives of individuals and in policy delivery. The research encompasses wider notions of health such as happiness, efficacy, and confidence.
These are all areas in which education has substantial benefits. Some of these, such as its effect in reducing the risk of depression, can be evaluated in terms of reduced NHS expenditures and other social and personal costs. Others have less immediately pecuniary implications but nonetheless contribute greatly to well-being.
More information about the Centre’s research programme can be found at www.learningbenefits.net/Research/Research.htm. The findings of the research form a sound basis for advocacy.
The Institute for Learning
The Institute for Learning (IfL) is the professional body for teachers, trainers, tutors and student teachers in the learning and skills sector.
The Institute supports adult and community learning, emergency and public services, further education colleges, Ministry of Defence and armed services, the voluntary sector, offender education and work-based learning.
Regulations published in 2007 mean that teachers, trainers, tutors and student teachers in the learning and skills sector need to register with the IfL and conduct continuing professional development (CPD).
Visit the IfL website to find out more about registration, training and events offered by the Institute. www.ifl.ac.uk
The Changing Landscape of Languages
In July 2008 Ofsted published this evaluation of strengths and weaknesses in modern foreign languages provision that took place between 2004 and 2007. The report includes reference to adult language learning highlighting the fact that while demand remains buoyant supply is in decline. Recommendations for adult language learning include the need for better strategic planning in the regions; improved access to qualifications and training for teachers; provision that is tailored to meet the needs of learners.
www.ofsted.gov.uk
Language learning for Adults. Where are we now?
Dr Peter Lavender, Director for Research, Development and Information at NIACE, spoke at CILT's Adult Language Show on June 6th 2008, highlighting the issues facing adult learning, and language learning in particular.
Download the PowerPoint presentation here. (515KB)
New website for teachers of community languages
The 'Our Languages' project supports community languages teaching and learning and aims to encourage community cohesion, celebrate pupil achievement and promote plurilingualism.
Although the focus of the project is on the provision of language learning in schools it will be of interest to teachers of community languages to adults, many of whom teach in a number of different educational sectors including complementary education.
Further support for community languages can be found on the CILT website at www.cilt.org.uk/commlangs
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