Description

This work package will define the methodology for the integration of informal learning in educational institutions and the workplace. That is to say the flow of activity from the starting point, an instance of informal learning, to the place where the different instances are stored and can be organised by the learner to the point where they are visible to the tutor or manager in an institution and can be acted on, discussed or used to make recommendations to the learner, and so on.

The first step in this process is to identify, among the target groups involved in the project, the behaviours, methodologies and tools involved in informal learning in order to define an appropriate activity flow for the integration of informal learning in institutions and organizations. It is necessary to explore what informal learning processes take place, what tools are used, and how they are used, and what is learned informally. Simultaneously the needs of the institutions in relation to the identification of informal learning will be explored.

The next stage in this work package will define the methodology for the integration of informal learning, this will involve the definition of the activity flow and the different stages and processes involved in it, which will be the collection stage, the storage stage (where the learner organises the instances of informal learning ) and the visibility stage (where others, tutors and HR managers are able to view and discuss and interact with the learner in relation to the instances of informal learning).

The definition of the methodology and the activity flow will serve as the blue print for the following work packages each of which covers one of the stages in this flow. The first (WP3) focuses on the collection and tagging of instances of informal learning using the Informal Learning Collector, the second (WP4) focuses on the processing, using a Portfolio and the last (WP5) focuses on the Institutional Interface where tutors and HR managers interact with the information that the learner has made visible, and with the learner.

The methodology will also define the kinds of communication and interaction that take place at different stages, interaction with resources and tools and tagging, and use of the catalogue of competences in the collection stage, interaction with peers in the storage stage, and dialogue between learner and institution and recommendations in the visibility stage. The methodology will define and provide examples of these different kinds of communication, such as for example a set of cases of the dialogue between institution staff (tutors and HR managers for example) and learners, the whole work flow can be understood as a facilitated process of communication and interaction.

Deliverable 6. Requirements analysis

This deliverable will consist in the performance of a study with recovers information about the informal learning activities of learners in the target groups, the tools they use and how. To do this the informal learning needs of learners and institutions will be explored. The tools to recover this information will be surveys and semi-structured interviews with learners and people in charge of institutions. Once the information has been gathered the report will be created. It will contain sections on the data collection approach, the objectives, the results and a summary and conclusions which will provide a picture of the ways informal learning takes place and the needs of institutions in relation to this.

Deliverable 7. Approach for competence recognition and integration in institutions

This deliverable will consist of a methodology that aims to facilitate the integration of informal learning in educational institutions and the workplace.
The report is going to define an activity flow and the communication and interaction patterns needed to ensure the success of this activity flow. It will be used as the blue print for the following sections.