Working Language

Workshop languages will be English (and, but only marginally) German.

Theme and Goal of the Workshop

In recent years we have seen the rise of digital interactive video technologies allowing people to create what previously was only possible to broadcasters. On one hand, it seems incredibly easy to find educational videos in the net for every purpose, to use them when one wants, even without institutionalized learning platforms and classrooms, and to combine them with networking practises. On the other hand, this offers also entirely new opportunities to establish new types of learning communities and settings where limitation in resources can be overcome, especially in peripheral circumstances.

The workshop seeks to draw together a group of individuals who are actively interested in getting a picture of these new opportunities and think collectively about patterns proven and possible. We will heavily use technology ourselves and seek to document our own learning process in a structured and useful form.

Target Groups

Our target group consists mainly innovators in adult education or community learning, who are specifically interested in the usage of video communication for group learning to bridge large geographical distances allowing to widen the scope of local educational offerings.

please note: This is not a "training course for adult educators" - we are looking for self - directed learners. We have a rough schedule of what we want to achieve, but it is also depending on our participants if we get there

We expect from participants that they are able to present at least one practical example on which we can work on together – and have a dedicated interest in the expandability and the handling of this resource – especially in the domain of learning in rural areas. We understand "adult education" in a very broad sense, so this is by no means limited to specialised institutions. We foster cooperative solutions and open content, regional solidarity and co-development. So this means there are several target groups involved, NGOs, private and public institutions which want to play a responsible part in a self - directed civil society able and competent to meet increasingly complex challenges of life provision.

Main Activities

Following the method of a “study circle” or “sprint”

• in the first two days we will collect practical examples, collect the main questions and problems and structure them into research tasks.
• The three following days will be dedicated to a common exploration of patterns and their relations, changing between group and plenary work.
• During the last three days we will do one practical session and transform our results into a Wiki-Video-Book, so we will have a solid outcome in form of learning materials.

The methods employed on the 8 days of work will include

• visual presentations
• group work, group discussion and brainstorming
• role playing and simulation, practical exercise
• study visits

Expected Results

• A point of reference and starting point for networking European virtual learning communities, especially strengthening small institutions with focus on local development who have to meet a lot of learners demands.
• better technical understanding of involved problems and solutions among all partcipants, exchange of knowhow
• better understanding for rules and procedures that enact the exchange of learning activities and hopefully generation of applicable codes of exchange for virtual lessons, learning materials and interactions.

Practical Arrangements

• The workshop will take place in Hotel Karolinenhof in Vienna, a three star hotel in a densely populated neighbourhood known for its 1925 social housing architecture, a hotel which is equipped with several working rooms including videoconference equipment. Participants are expected to bring along a state-of the art notebook computer equipped with wireless connection.
• Participants will work in plenary sessions and in groups. Of course we will also do Videoconference – to - PC sessions and record them.

Forward to ParticipantsProfile or download the Registration Form to fill it out and send it to us.