Development projects until 2018

Development: How to use Smartphones in basic skills courses

We know from previous research within MIKA that migrant learners use their Smartphones regularly. Therefore, Women from All Countries, DANAIDA, Women’s Service Graz, BILL and das kollektiv cooperated in 2017 to improve the usage of tablets, smartphones and apps also during basic skills courses. “Smartphone workshops” and “Smartphone consultation hours” were provided for migrant learners in five institutions. Read more about it here.

Developing methods for self-evaluation in basic skills courses

Self-evaluation workshops for basic skills professionals were delevoped and pilot-tested (das kollektiv, Verein Projekt Integrationshaus). Evaluation materials for learners were developed and pilot-tested in three institutions as well (das kollektiv, Verein Projekt Integrationshaus, BILL). Read more about the workshops here and more about new evaluation materials here.

Futhermore, existing feedback methods were tested with migrant learners, and a collection for professionals is provided here: feedback methods for course-evaluation (Women’s Service Graz, DANAIDA, Women from All Countries, BILL with VHS Linz)

Developing a model for teaching German without writing

The possibilities how to teach German without writing were investigated by Alfa Centre for Migrants, Women from All Countries and DANAIDA.

Materials and exercises were developed and pilot-tested in courses (using audio, video, pictures and content-oriented activities). A summary for basic skills professionals is provided here.

Developing Basic Education as a Profession

Basic education is currently a profession in development. MIKA offers a series of professional development workshops on this topic. As part of the workshops at bifeb, steps were jointly defined that contribute to a stronger “basic education profession” and that clearly increase the visibility of this profession. One product of this work was a policy paper written by basic education professionals.

Organized by: Women’s Service Graz (Frauenservice Graz)
For more information, contact: birgit.aschemann(at)frauenservice.at

Development of an Observation Model with Guidelines

Observation of lessons and presenting one's own lesson sequences are an indispensable part of training to become a basic education professional (“basic skills teacher”), a process that also requires an appropriate framework and professional accompaniment. As part of this development project, an observation model with observation guidelines for course instructors was designed and tested.

Organized by: Women from All Countries. Education and Counseling Centre (Frauen aus allen Ländern. Bildungs-und Beratungseinrichtung)
For more information, contact: Katarina.Ortner(at)frauenausallenlaendern.org

Digital and Media Literacy in Basic Education for Migrants

How does acquisition of reading and writing competences support acquisition of language and ICT 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 (in the context of plurilingualism as well) and other fields of learning?

These questions formed the foundation of the project. Teaching activities were created and tested in a pilot course.

Organized by: Integrationshaus (Verein Projekt Integrationshaus) in cooperation with Women from All Countries. Education and Counseling Centre (Frauen aus allen Ländern. Bildungs-und Beratungseinrichtung), Danaida and maiz
For more information, contact: m.wurzenrainer(at)integrationshaus.at

Developing Know-how on OER (Open Educational Resources) for Basic Skills Courses

Basic education involves work with materials that are individually produced and tailored to the learners. It is helpful to have access to free materials that can be adapted. Such materials are currently available in smaller specialized pools or on specialist portals, and some can be found within large Creative Commons repositories. MIKA expanded its pool of materials until 2018 and provides information on how to find and create OER and how to use them (depending on licensing).

Organized by: Women’s Service Graz (Frauenservice Graz)
For more information, contact: birgit.aschemann(at)frauenservice.at

Literacy/Basic Education in Other (First) Languages than German

To meet the needs and adapt to the specific starting situations of migrants in basic education, it was investigated to what extent it is conducive to provide learning opportunities in literacy/basic education in other first languages than German. In two pilot courses it was investigated to what extent this courses in the first language support the literacy process – in German as well. The findings from the pilot courses were documented and incorporated into professional development seminars and programmes.

Organized by: Alfa Centre for Migrants (AlfaZentrum für MigrantInnen)
For more information, contact: angelika.hrubesch(at)vhs.at

Completed development projects until 2016: results

The following materials and methods were developed in former project periods (in German):