You, your institution or school, and your participants have different preferences and expectations regarding the common learning process. Planning is the art of developing a plan for structured and goal-oriented learning, considering the diverse expectations and needs of stakeholders, activating the qualities in a group, and ensuring that all of its parts gain from the common process.
A learning process consists of the standard elements described in detail in the During section. No matter if it lasts several days, several hours, or only one hour, the working conditions need to be clarified, or learners need to be enabled to involve their qualities, curiosity and expertise.
At several stages of a longer process they also need opportunities to reflection on their needs, questions and experiences, and also to assess their learning during the process (formative evaluation). A final evaluation focuses on the learning outcome, its relevance for their future and on the evaluation of the learning process they were involved in. Finally, learners and facilitators need to describe learning outcome or competence development.
Five Process Dynamics in a Workshop or Training
Planning a workshop or seminar means taking into account different process dynamics. The learning as an activity is curricular, the group dynamics is evolving, the topical concept is structured, creative thinking requires methodological alternation.
#1 Curricular Nature of Learning
The first is the curricular nature of learning as a circle between experience, reflection and conceptualization, Therefore, a process needs to foresee place for regular experience and regular reflection/assessment. In this picture, the red stripes symbolize regular self-observation and reasoning phases.
#2 Divergence and Convergence
Second, a learning process is oscillating between two opposite ways of thinking. Divergent thinking opens the mind to different impulses - rather open-ended and explorative. Convergent thinking is narrowing our thinking. It's logical and directed toward a conclusion or result. The interplay between divergence and convergence characterizes the whole process and also explains the dynamics in smaller units on a micro-level. One approach to satisfy dimensions is to mix and alternate methodology.
#3 Content Order
Third, the order of the topical aspects of a learning event shapes the process, often in a linear way. The topical string is often the only clearly-described program aspect. For example, in a program schedule this includes key aspects of a day, of a part of a day, or of a unit.
#4 Group Dynamics
Fourth, the group dynamics need to be taken into consideration. In particular, when a group is starting together, the phases of group development claim their space from group formation to storming, then norming toward finding into a performing mode. In order to achieve this, consider the idea of Cooperative Learning, team building measures at the beginning and recognize, that probably higher group performance will be possible during the later steps of a process.
#5 Competence development
At the end the workshop, lecture or longer educational programme should support the participants' acquisition of competences. Check:
- Do the planned elements address the most relevant specific (sub) competences - knowledge, attitudes, values, skills?
- Does this plan empower participants in the sense of supporting self-development and does it offer enough qualitative opportunities to participation and co-creation?
Articles, Checklists and Methods
Resources: Handbooks
Youth Workers Toolkit
For self-development from the project YouthWork 2.0 in EN, ES, RO
Download
Holistic Learning
Planning experiential, inspirational and participatory learning processes.
Download
Compass
Council of Europe's manual for human rights education with young people
Download
Learning Circles Facilitator Handbook
P2PU's basic facilitation handbook
Download
Reflective Peacebuilding
John Paul Lederach, Reina Neufeldt, Hal Culbertson,
Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies: Planning oriented on impact Download
Facilitation step-by-step
Learning companion for facilitators . A self-learning portfolio tool for your professional development.
Download
T-Kit 6: Training Essentials
A comprehensive toolbox for training organization.
Download
Manual for facilitators in non-formal education
By Council of Europe on non-formal learning, team working and personal responsibilities. Download
Resources: Planning and organizing
Quality and criteria
Diversity in Youth Exchange Checklist
from German-Polish Youth Exchange
Download
Handbook on quality in learning mobility
published in the frame of the CoE/EUC' youth partnership
Download
Q!App
Collaborative project concept development online by European Platform for Learning Mobility (EPLM)
Q!App
Reflective Peacebuilding
John Paul Lederach, Reina Neufeldt, Hal Culbertson,
Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies: Planning oriented on impact Download
Open Badges
Share "learning badges" with your learners for every achievement in a learning process with help of a digital platform.
Open Badges
Apps and Tools: Creating Texts Together, Collaborating
Etherpad
Writing and sharing texts together without login or registration, immediately.
Etherpad services
Example: Yopad
CryptPad
Privacy-by-design alternative to popular office tools and cloud services. CryptPad online
Pinnet
Digital pinboards: explore ideas, collect tasks or use it as a "bulletin board" for your team, automatic notifications included.
Pinnet
Chatons Collection
FOSS and ready-to-use tool collection by French CHATONS Collective
Chatons
Q!App
Collaborative project concept development online by European Platform for Learning Mobility (EPLM)
Q!App
EU
Erasmus + and EU: Useful Links
Distance Calculator
for Erasmus + projects
online
Project Results Database
of the Erasmus+ programme
online
Design & Style
Guidance regarding the visual identity
online
Mobility Tool
Access via the EU Login
online
Programme Guide
Central page of the Commission
online
Calls for proposals
at the Commission's tender and funds website
online
National Agencies
Overview on the programme's website
online
European Central Bank
Exchange Rates
online
Q!App
Collaborative project concept development online by European Platform for Learning Mobility (EPLM)
Q!App
Europass
Platform for the European CV and other work and learning relöated tools
online
Youthpass
Recognition tool for non-formal & informal learning in youth projects
online
EPALE
Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe
online
