Continuing Education
Professional development with a focus on ICT and materials
Professional development (16 hours of instruction) with an emphasis on ICT and digital forms of learning, materials and material development provide trainers with access to new developments. We deal with the question of resource development and quality indicators for teaching materials and become sensitive to the needs of the learners.
Organized by: Danaida (Graz) from 2015 until 2018
For more information, contact: Marianne Hammani-Birnstingl, email: mika(at)danaida.at
Competence management in basic skills courses for migrants
One-day sensitization workshops on competence management in basic skills courses were held in 2016 and 2017: The goal was to introduce the competence management tool developed in preliminary projects and to reflect on possible applications in basic education.
For basic skills professionals participating in professional education programmes, an elective module entitled “Competence Management in Basic Education” was provided. This module was composed of two levels and implemented the principles and guidelines of the Swiss “CH-Q Model for Competence Management”. The first part (CH-Q 1) emphasizes one's own experience with the competence management process. The second part (CH-Q 2) transfers one's own experience to work with the target group. The workload consisted of a total of six contact days as well as individual work on creating a personal dossier.
Organized by BILL - Institut für Bildungsentwicklung Linz in 2017 and 2018;
For more information, contact Mag.a Elke Schildberger, schildberger(at)bildungsentwicklung.com
Basic Education as a Profession
In this workshop for basic education professionals, basic education is understood to be a distinct profession and is discussed and developed as such. The context and history of this profession and one's own vocation are reflected on. Contributions to current standards and (inter)national developments and scenarios are presented. The workshop is about reflection and self-empowerment in the face of the current situation. Steps are jointly defined that contribute to a strengthening of the profession.
This 2-days-workshop was part of a series of events at the Austrian Federal Institute of Adult Education (bifeb) but can also be booked separately.
Organized by: Women’s Service Graz (Frauenservice Graz) from 2016 until 2018
Location: Strobl (bifeb) and by arrangement (workshop on demand)
For more information, contact: Birgit Aschemann, email: birgit.aschemann(at)frauenservice.at
Professional development: Open Educational Resources (OER) for Basic Education Professionals
Open access resources that can be adapted for lessons can greatly simplify basic education (with an emphasis on German as a second language). This professional development seminar (8 hours of instruction) introduces open educational resources (OER), how they are characterized, how to find them and how they are produced. The participants become acquainted with existing collections of open-access teaching materials for their work in basic education and are able to try them out, determine how useful they would be in their own lessons, exchange information and use the materials in accordance with the licence agreement.
Organized by: Women’s Service Graz (Frauenservice Graz)
Location: by arrangement (seminar on demand)
Tentative dates: 04/2016–05/2018
For more information, contact: Birgit Aschemann, email: birgit.aschemann(at)frauenservice.at
Becoming a learning facilitator for literacy/basic skills/German as a second language
This pilot course (40 hours of instruction) provided a comprehensive, practice oriented introduction to the occupational area of basic education/literacy/German as a second language. It included observation and participation in a literacy/German as a second language course, methodological and didactic coaching, participation in workshops etc.
Organized by: Women from All Countries. Education and Counseling Centre (Frauen aus allen Ländern. Bildungs- und Beratungseinrichtung) in Innsbruck (2015-2016)
For more information, contact: Katarina Ortner, email: Katarina.Ortner(at)frauenausallenlaendern.org
Migrants with basic education needs in focus
Based on the findings published in the brochure “Migrants with basic education needs in focus" (German), this workshop provides insight into the conditions, needs and backgrounds of migrant learners. The workshop is dealing with the educational biographies of migrants in connection with the workshop participants' practical experience and reflection.
Organized by: Integrationshaus (Verein Projekt Integrationshaus) in Vienna and Graz (2015 - 2016)
For more information, contact: Martin Wurzenrainer, m.wurzenrainer(at)integrationshaus.at
Digital and Media Literacy in Basic Education for Migrants
Digital and media literacy play a central role in basic education and the information society and are intensely examined in a MIKA. The following key questions are covered: How does acquisition of reading and writing competences support acquisition of language and digital and media competences and vice versa? How are they contingent on one another? How can digital and media literacy be taught “from the start” as an integral component of the basic education of migrants in combination with language (German as a second language but also in the context of plurilingualism as a resource) and other fields of learning?
The results are feeded into a pilot course in 2017-2018 in Vienna and Innsbruck, organized by Verein Projekt Integrationshaus.
For more information, contact: Martin Wurzenrainer, email: m.wurzenrainer(at)integrationshaus.at
Reflexivity workshop on the topic “Learning Processes”
Pedagogic reflexivity is a professional reflective approach within the field of pedagogy and a possible way to deal with questions about the instructors’ knowledge of learners and the impact of this knowledge on pedagogic action. The systematic and competent reflection of pedagogic action should be considered an inextricable element of professionalization. das kollektiv developed a pedagogic reflectivity workshop on the topic of learning processes and tried it out in two rounds.
Organized by:das kollektiv in Graz and Innsbruck, 2016
For more information, contact: Rubia Salgado, email: rubia(at)maiz.at
Events for professional development and networking of basic education professionals
The Alfa Centre regularly offers networking and professional development events for active basic education professionals from different institutions. Taking place twice a semester, the events focus on networking, professional development and collegial exchange. The content from the programmes is expanded upon and the professional development needs of basic education professionals are taken into account in the organization of the programmes.
Organized by: Alfa Centre for Migrants of the Viennese Adult Education Centres (AlfaZentrum für MigrantInnen der Wiener Volkshochschulen) in Vienna from 2015 until 2018
For more information, contact: Angelika Hrubesch, email: angelika.hrubesch(at)vhs.st
Professional development until 2015 (completed)
Reflexivity Workshops ― an invitation to reflexivity
In its project “Basic education and pedagogical reflexivity in the migration society,” maiz deals with the topic of pedagogical reflexivity as a way to professionally examine teachers' knowledge of migrant learners and the influence of their knowledge on their actions as educators.
By the end of 2013, six reflexivity workshops with different areas of emphasis had taken place in three provinces throughout Austria. Materials had been developed before and were pilot-tested in the workshops.
Materials for teachers to download:
- For the workshop "Speaking as the other"
- For the workshop "Protagonism"
- For the workshop "Knowledge"
For more information, contact:
“Love being a trainer” ― Resource workshops for teaching staff
Surveys of trainers in basic education revealed that maintaining one's own personal resources (care for oneself) is vital for the teachers' motivation and job satisfaction. Therefore, specific resource workshops for teaching staff were held in Vienna and Graz in 2014 (mainly for trainers in basic education). These workshops included well-proven methods from resource work and burnout prevention plus a range of recommendations from other basic educators. They focussed on job satisfaction and the possibilities for lightening one’s personal load.
Information:A focus on migrants with basic educational needs
Under the motto "...if I work hard today, my future will be better! ― really?", the Integrationshaus offered workshops for trainers, advisors and disseminators all over Austria in 2014.
The workshops built on previous interview results and had a strong focus on participation and reflexivity; they dealt with the needs of migrant course participants as well as the “needs” formulated on the outside and the consequences they bring.
For more information, please contact:
Preliminary action: Sensitization
DANAIDA held a series of sensitization workshops in Graz. Their objective was to help participants identify conditions favourable to supporting migrants learning German. In the workshops, participants reflected on their own approaches to and experiences with the topic. They exchanged experiences and information, performed exercises allowing them to try out new attitudes and dealt with the topic of German language acquisition.
For more information, please contact
Information regarding competence profiling
An instrument for competence profiling tailored to the specific needs of migrants was developed and tested in the context of MIKA 1 in 2010/11. Migrants face special challenges when demonstrating their manifold skills and competences. Their professional experience and qualifications are often not recognized, and informal learning outcomes are completely overlooked. At the same time, the process of migration itself can be a valuable learning opportunity. The sensitization workshops were addressed to teaching staff in basic adult education for migrants. The competence profiling instrument and experiences with migrants were presented.
Provider: Linz Adult Education Centre — KOMPAZ Competence Recognition Centre www.kompetenzprofil.at
Phonetics and Phonology in Written Language Acquisition for German as a Second Language
This workshop (in two parts) focused on phonetic and phonological fundamentals of written language acquisition and particular challenges in written language acquisition for German as a Second Language. Participants learned about various didactic methods and topic-specific exercises.
Provided by Danaida www.danaida.at - for more information please contact danaida(at)aon.at
The following continuing education programmes were conceived of as elective modules of the “Literacy and German as a Second Language for Migrants” course and can be registered for in addition to the compulsory modules.
They are open to anyone interested in continuing education.
Competence management: Training as a learning and process facilitator for migrants with a need for basic education
Competence management renders skills and strengths visible and useable. With the help of the instructor, the participants in the workshop series come up with their personal competence profiles. A profile includes documentation and analysis of which competences have been acquired so far in different areas of life.
The instrument used for competence profiling has been adapted for individuals with a migration background who need basic education; learning and process facilitators receive special training for this in the programme.
Provider: Linz Adult Education Centre — KOMPAZ Competence Recognition Centre www.kompetenzprofil.at
Module 1: Competence management according to CH-Q, Level 1 User level — Self-awareness
In order to work with the instrument as a trainer/process facilitator, the participants are required to go through the competence management procedures themselves. During the workshop series, participants come up with their own personal competence profiles according to CH-Q.
Target group: Individuals who have several years of experience in training and/or advising, who have experience with the target group migrants and who are interested in completing module 2.
Venue: Linz, Wissensturm, Kärntnerstraße 26, 4020 Linz
Dates: no current course
Module 2: Competence Management according to CH-Q, Level 2
Training as a learning and process facilitator for migrants with a need for basic education
This module focuses on facilitating learning and processes for migrants with a need for basic education while they develop their personal competence profiles. The participants become acquainted with the methods and learn how to use the instrument as adapted for migrants. After having completed both modules, the participants are entitled to independently use the CH-Q competence management procedures for migrants.
Target group: Individuals with several years of experience in training and/or advising and experience with the target group migrants who have completed module 1.
Dates: no current course
Contact and registration: Linz Adult Education Centre, KOMPAZ Competence Recognition Centre
ICT in literacy and basic education (Danaida, Graz)
DANAIDA provided training in optimizing the use of computers in courses. (Future) trainers were instructed in how to use tools and software that enable them to write their own exercises that will then be used by the learners on the PC. The course presented programmes and tools that were relatively easy to use by non-computer experts and gave participants the opportunity to try them out.
Provider: Danaida, Graz www.danaida.at
Target group: Anyone interested in PC-supported learning environments who would like to use their own PC exercises in the classroom (prerequisite: knowledge of Windows)
Contact and registration: Verein Danaida, Marianne Hammani-Birnstingl, 0316 710660,
Digital literacy (maiz, Linz)
This one-day training programme presented materials on digital literacy and basic mathematics education for adult migrants and provided didactic recommendations and handouts for use in the classroom.
The participants had the opportunity to try out and discuss materials that can be used in the classroom.
Provider: maiz – Autonomous Centre for and by Migrant Women, Linz, www.maiz.at
Target group: Basic adult education instructors who work with migrants (German as a second language and literacy courses)
Contact and registration: 0732 77 60 70,
Advanced training in individual learning facilitation in literacy and German as a second language (Women from All Countries)
This continuing education module provided training in Tyrol in the area of methodology and didactics for literacy and German as a second language.
The participants were trained to accompany concrete courses in literacy and German as a second language as learning facilitators. They worked in small groups (1 learning facilitator, 2 course participants) to consolidate and reflect on the course content.
Provider: Frauen aus allen Ländern (Women from All Countries), Tyrol www.frauenausallenlaendern.org
Contact and registration: 0512 564778,
Training for teacher trainers in literacy/basic education for migrants in German as a second language (Alfa Centre for Migrants of the Vienna Adult Education Centres)
During the project period 2011 to 2013, the training programme expanded to include an additional course for disseminators offered in Strobl/St. Wolfgang parallel to the course.
This expansion should ensure that in the future, high-quality Train the Trainer offerings will exist throughout Austria so that the prerequisites are achieved for solid basic education courses for migrants around the whole country.
Provider: Alfa Centre for Migrants of the Viennese Adult Education Centres www.alfazentrum.at
Contact and registration: 0699 18917519,