LARA TRAINING

There have been two distinct phases of LARA training: delivery of pilot training and the development of the training package.

In the first phase, a training ‘planning framework’  was devised by the team as the basis for pilot activity with a number of different professional groups. The planning framework comprised modules each with detailed content, methods and resources. The modules were designed in response to the key themes of ageing and learning that had emerged from the research phase and from subsequent discussion and debate.

Partners adopted a ‘pick-and-mix’ approach to the application of the training framework, selecting modules and/or elements of modules that best matched their target groups of trainees. As a result of evaluation of pilot training, modules were re-configured enabling key content and methodology to come to the fore in the final version which can be found in the ‘toolkit’ section of the Training Package.

In the second phase, all the elements of the LARA project have been brought together to form the LARA Training Package. The package is for leaders of adult groups in which learning is all or part of the activity. As such it has been developed for self-study. It is also, however, a reference source for the delivery of face to face training and can be used either by trainees for additional study or by trainers to prepare programmes for different target groups of trainees.

The research phase, the courses for adults, the pilot training courses and both planning frameworks have been used to inform the content of the training package. The trainee is taken on a journey of self-reflection with opportunities to develop knowledge and understanding about ageing, about learning and about teaching. The methodology of the training package mirrors that used during LARA’s pilot courses.

The project LARA has been funded with support from the European Commission, Project Number 142317-LLP-1-2008-1-DE-GRUNDTVIG-GMP.This webpage reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.