What qualifications do teachers in adult education need

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

“VHS VIPs” – free lance teachers „For the participants, we are the VHS“ Harmeier, Michaela: „Für die Teilnehmenden sind wir die Volkshochschule“ – Selbstverständnis von Kursleitenden und ihr Umgang mit Qualifizierungsmaßnahmen, Bertelsmann: 2009.

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

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 -

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-53721 Siegburg alexandra. haas@vhs-rhein-sieg. de