What qualifications do teachers in adult education need? – a practical example Alexandra Haas, VHS Rhein-Sieg, Germany

What qualifications do teachers in adult education need?  The VHS Rhein-Sieg: who we are, what we do  The „ideal teacher“  The „starter kit“: a basic qualification  Life long learning … for learners and for teachers

VHS Rhein-Sieg: Where we are

A closer look

What we do  Political, social and environmental education  Psychology, philosophy, pedagogics  Creative courses, arts and handicraft  Healthcare, yoga, gymnastics, fitness  “Wining and dining”  Languages  Vocational training  Computer sciences  School leaving certificates

Facts and figures 99 Towns and communities of between 21,000 and 60,000 inhabitants 2260,000 people (50% of the county‘s population) 220,000 participants p.a. 11,800 courses and seminars p.a. 440,000 teaching hours 225 full time staff 4400 free lance teachers

“VHS VIPs” – free lance teachers Harmeier, Michaela: „Für die Teilnehmenden sind wir die Volkshochschule“ – Selbstverständnis von Kursleitenden und ihr Umgang mit Qualifizierungsmaßnahmen, Bertelsmann: „For the participants, we are the VHS“

The “ideal teacher” qualification in adult education methodology and didactics social skills competence/ qualification in teaching subject

New teachers: three applications in 2013 English department: - English native speaker - trained science teacher plus TESOL certificate French department: - Bilingual French/German, M.A. German - single workshops in methodology & didactics IT-department: - banker, software engineer, husky/ sledge dog trainer - no pedagogical qualification

New teachers: three applications in 2013 Teaching subject Social skills ? Methodology and didactics Teaching subject Social skills ? Methodology and didactics ? Teaching subject Social skills ? Methodology and didactics -

The “starter-kit”: a basic qualification  What do our teachers need?  A modular course with basic teaching skills for all teachers of all departments and additional modules for single subjects or skills  What do we offer?  Individual mentoring: course planning, demonstration lessons etc.  EPQ : Erwachsenenpädagogische Qualifikation des Landesverbands der Volkshochschulen von NRW

The “EPQ”  Five obligatory modules  Learning and the learners  Lesson- and course planning  Methodology and didactics  Communication and intercultural communication  Learning in groups / Learning at a VHS  Five optional modules  Subject-specific (healthcare, languages, creativity, computing etc.)  Specific skills (moderation, presentation, consulting etc.)  Two demonstration lessons  One lesson observation  One observation of customer consulting  Final assignment: group analysis and lesson plan

EPQ impressions

Life long learning – for learners and for teachers  What do we expect?  One workshop/training/seminar per year  What do we offer?  Inhouse workshops, swap shops, examiner trainings for language teachers …  VHS-Trainertage: One focus-topic: („What is Education?“, „Quo vadis, VHS?“, Neurodidactics and older learners, Positive psychology …) Needs-analysis: tailor-made workshops according to wishes of our teachers

VHS Trainertage - impressions

Thank you for listening! Alexandra Haas VHS Rhein-Sieg Ringstraße 24 D Siegburg