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German Institute for Adult Education (DIE)

EU Project visuaLearning225773 – CP – 1 – DE – GRUNDTVIG – G - 1

4th partner meeting

Workshop „visuaLearning“ in GermanyMonika Tröster

18.10.2007Ireland

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German Institute for Adult Education (DIE)

• The concept of the workshop for teachers was changed and completed. Here the goal of the course was to relate the respective contents to the target group and the everyday.

• Presentation of important results of the group discussions: This section was especially well suited to build a bridge between the subject “visual learning” and the experiences of the tutors.

• New fragments of theory: The presentation of psychological learning and understanding was emphazised to show the meaning of visual learning for an integrative way of thinking, multiple representation and linking of knowledge in complex subject areas. With this new input the methods of visual learning the creative methods can better be understood.

Changes in the original concept

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German Institute for Adult Education (DIE)

• Presentation of general design elements and principles: Basic elements and principles of visual design were presented in a way that they can be related to class and/or to the visualization and the design of learning materials.

• In the practical part of the workshop selected methods of visual learning were presented and afterwards in the “Circle of Methods” applied in practice by the tutors.

The documentation of the results (advantages, disadvantages and recommendations) was carried out with the programme “MindManager”.

• Presentation of “Preferences of learning types”, “Creative Commons Licenses” and “free Clipart”.

Changes in the original concept

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German Institute for Adult Education (DIE)

• After the experiences of the first workshop, its methodical part was extended. Therefore the chapters “Learner Types“ and ”Creative Commons Licenses and Picture Libraries“were omitted. In the workshop it was merely pointed to these two chapters.

• This decision proved itself in the second workshop. The individual participants could apply several methods.

• The teachers did not know each other. The need for an exchange of experiences was accordingly higher (than in the first workshop).

Changes after the first workshop:

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German Institute for Adult Education (DIE)

• The experiences and indications of the teachers especially regarding the visual competence of learners and the application of visual methods are concurrent and partly complement one another.

• Generally all workshops were regarded as relevant to practice and very well adapted for the target group.

• Teachers remarked that the workshop showed them the meaning of methods anew. This met with general improvement from the participants.

• The learning biographies brought out in the group discussions were confirmed by the course directors – as well as the differences which are specifically related to the target groups.

General impressions / results regarding the workshops

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German Institute for Adult Education (DIE)

• Already in the conception of the circle of methods, those methods were avoided which could be a financial burden for the institutions. This was welcomed by the teachers.

• In regard of the two programmes “MindManager“ and “FreeMind“ it became clear that some teachers were reserved when it came to application. Perhaps – with the help of screenshots - the production of a mindmap could be explained step by step in the final publication.

• Some teachers asked for patterns to introduce for example clusterings or mindmaps in class. These patterns could be provided for download on the project website in order to encourage its use.

What kind of support do the teachers need?

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German Institute for Adult Education (DIE)

• In both workshops the course directors were talking about visual methods which they use successfully in the everyday life of the courses. These examples of application should be processed and published.

• The evaluation of the individual methods by the course directors are definitely to be included in the final publication. A chapter “from practice to practice” would be possible.

Recommendations should be illustrated with pictures produced in the workshop.

• The need for exchange of experiences was very high in the workshops. In general, practical experience should be documented and be recognizable.

Recommendations for the final concept