The world today is digital. In trainings, various types of digital devices are used. This includes desktop PCs, Laptops, Notebooks, Chromebooks, Tablets, Convertibles and Smartphones.
We call them “Multiple Devices”. They enable the use of technology enhanced trainings with an implementation of multimedia-based and interactive (M&I) training material.
This sounds simple – the problem is the delivery of content so that it is displayed (and can be used by all trainees) on all types of devices. Another issue (in this context) is the creating of high-quality multimedia-based and interactive (M&I) content – especially in smaller Adult Education organisations.
The InterMedia Project serves to exchange experiences and to develop digital skills, especially in the multimedia area, within the staff of the participating organisations. Furthermore, the development and use of M&I learning materials should be worked out together, brought into context with multiple devices and developed in a comprehensive documentation.
A special focus was laid on methodology and approaches to support seniors in this digital-oriented learning and training. Furthermore, the organisations use the gained experience and knowledge to promote Erasmus+ programs – and in this sense especially courses – to all generations in their home countries.
The project aimed to increase the knowledge and skills in the participating organisations to create and use M&I content, with particular attention to multiple devices and a specific focus to seniors.
The project’s objectives were planned to achieve the goals described.
- Analyses of the use of Multiple Devices in Adult Education courses. This analysis does not exist for Adult Education currently.
- Analyses and testing of the possibilities (tools) to create interactive and multimedia-based content (dependent on the course environments)
- Analyses of possible platforms that support creating interactive and multimedia content.
(Moodle is the standard here, but also alternative options, like some popular and easy-to-use Content Management Systems (like WordPress) as a learning platform will be analysed. - Establishment and set up of a community of adult education institutions, which uses multiple devices as well as they develop strategies to develop multimedia-based and interactive training materials.
Four Adult Education (AE) organisations, well distributed in Europe and with complementary profiles, cooperated in this project:
- EBI/EIE is an AE focusing on older people, established in a small town/rural environment (Austria);
- AJITER focuses on younger people in a remote place (Azores, Portugal);
- Brainlog is involved in AE in near context with authorities in a bigger city in Denmark, and
- EuphoriaNet is a business-oriented AE organization in a European capital town (Rome, Italy).
The planned activities focused on a practical case studies about the versatile use of Multiple Devices, an analysis of available Multimedia & Interactive freeware tools, their usability and possible utilization for planning and developing training content (including the development of examples/pilots). Also, an analysis of possible learning platforms – as described above – has been done. Finally, the findings were summarized in an “implementation guide”. A special focus was put to developing methodologies that support seniors best.
Parallel to these activities, networking has been undertaken to create a community of interested Adult Education providers in Europe. An EPALE group works as the core instrument to keep this community alive.
The methodology to achieve the desired results based on a cloud-based working platform where the content was developed: ideas were published there and developed in a joint group process using the classical tools like comments and suggestions. Physical transnational and virtual meetings enhanced the creation process.
The project’s result are several documents summarizing the findings with a central document, the “Implementation Guide for M&I based trainings using Multiple Devices”. Material is published web-based way, but also in a printable PDF-version in English language.
The impact of the project to partners and stakeholders will be the competences to create efficient technology-enhanced trainings (using Multiple Devices and M&I tools) for the participating organisations and the upbuild community.
The long-term benefits of the project will be the chance of further development of M&I based on the project findings. The availability of appropriate free tools paired with the knowledge of their use and the competence to deliver the M&I based content equally on all currently available devices is the starting point of further developments and amendments in AE training.
