What is flipped learning and how can it be put into practice in adult education? This was the focus of the discussion held over the four-day transnational training session held in Roosendaal, in the Netherlands, on May 14-17. It was an educational marathon for teachers and trainers involved in adult education and working in partner organisations of Project Flip-Ideal. A delegation from the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, in collaboration with the Rome CPIA 2 participated in the event [see news: Two-year Challenge].
A number of interesting stimuli were presented, ranging from the training day with Professor Maurice de Greef from the Brussels Free University, who illustrated the five characteristics of a flipped class as a successful learning environment, to the workshop with Joris van Waes from Schoolmakers, who introduced new, efficient digital tools to “flip” learning (Mentimeter, Trello, Kahoot! and others).
The added value of the educational week was the exchange of views and experiences amongst colleagues from different countries that helped everyone to familiarise with new methods and capitalise on ideas to be developed with their students.
This type of education, according to the participants, provides a fundamental support to those who often act as digital ambassadors in their classes.
In turn, each of the 24 teachers participating in the training session will train at least four other colleagues on the use of flipped classes in adult education. The objective is to reach no less than 500 students in a wide range of sectors, including literacy and mathematics, second language learning, ITC, etc.
The final objective, however, is to impart basic competences to functionally illiterate adults. Indeed, there are very few studies on the use of the flipped learning approach for this specific target group, which is the focus of Project Flip Ideal.
Over the coming months, the project partners will develop an on-line course on the flipped classroom, as well as guidelines with good practices to help teachers approaching the flipped classroom methodology.
