Training course: ABC of learning in EVS

Location: Estonia

Dates: 8-14 May 2016

Number of participants: 30

ABC of learning in EVS

The training course “ABC of learning in EVS” will guide the participants towards better understanding and improved practices of supporting the learning of EVS volunteers in order to realise the full potential of the EVS projects.

Overview

The course is taking into account the diversity of organisations working with EVS volunteers (sending, receiving or coordinating), which means that there is no universally applicable solution. The course will not provide a set of tools or methods, but will support the participants to develop their own tools and methods that could be used in their own working context. Doing this together in an international group we will inspire each other and share ideas on how learning support for EVS volunteers should look like. In addition during the training course we will explore different theoretical frameworks for supporting the learning (based on the work of David Colb, Carl Rodgers and Benjamin Bloom). Furthermore we will put an accent on how to apply these learning frameworks in practice and in different situations of EVS.

The training aims to improve the quality of learning support provided to EVS volunteers by increasing the competencies of the representatives of the EVS accredited organisations to better plan, support and evaluate the learning.

It is expected that as the result of the training course the participants will:
• be aware of and able to identify learning possibilities for volunteer in EVS project while understanding EVS as learning service;
• be able to support the learning process by creating the learning possibilities and choosing fitting approaches (including methods) based on the requirements;
• be confident to present the plan for improvement of learning support within EVS project in his/her organisation and/or reality.

Profile of the participants

This training course is for the youth workers, leaders, project coordinators or mentors involved in EVS projects in a role of providing the learning support for the volunteers. We believe that this training will be useful for expanding your awareness on different learning approaches and to equip you to support the learning of EVS volunteers.

Profile of candidates:
• EVS project coordinators, mentors, tutors/supervisors.
• People responsible in the organisations to provide learning support for EVS volunteers.
• Representative of an EVS accredited organization (sending, receiving or coordinating) who is willing to improve their ability to support learning and ready for follow-up activities.
• Have some experience with supporting the EVS volunteers before attending the course.
• Future commitment to continue working on provision of learning support to EVS volunteers.
• Be able to work in English.
• Be able to attend the full duration of the training course.

Methodology

The training course “ABC of learning in EVS” and its methodology are inspired by the values and principles of non-formal learning. It is based on the learning theories of Humanistic school of education and on the Youthpass process. It is very much practice oriented and gives to the participants tangible skills. We will also dedicate a part to explore the ways of self-directed learning and planning of the learning in the future.

The course will offer some theoretical inputs but also a lot of space for:
• building new learning tools,
• trying out how to deal with challenging situations,
• exchange of opinion and ideas
• linking what we learn with the reality of the organisation.

For this reason, participants are kindly asked to fill in the application forms providing information about their realities, challenges and issues connected with supporting the learning in EVS as well as to reflect on their learning needs and interests. The trainers’ team will guide the learning process that mostly will come from participants’ and group experiences.

This also means that the responsibility to make the training course effective is shared together with all participants. Each participant will not be only an active learner responsible for his/her own learning, but will also be encouraged to support the learning of others.