venerdì 14 settembre 2012

Non-formal education: learning how to learn!


What does "non formal education" mean? "Any organized and sustained educational activities that do not correspond exactly to the definition of formal education; non formal education may therefore take place both within and outside educational institutions, and cater to persons of all ages, it may cover educational programmes to impart adult literacy, life-skills, work-skills and general culture (UNESCO: 1997, 41). Each project we  organize and develop should lead to the acquisition/improvement of competences (knowledge, skills and attitudes) leading to the personal, socio-educational and professional development of all participants and promoters involved. This will be achieved through non-formal and informal learning. A variety of non-formal learning methods and techniques may be applied (workshops, role plays, outdoor activities, ice-breakers, roundtables, etc.) in order to address the different needs of participants and desired outcomes. The project should be based on a learning process stimulating creativity,  active participation and initiative (entrepreneurial spirit). Such learning process should be planned and analysed throughout the Youth Exchange: participants should be provided with a place for reflection on learning experiences and outcomes. The project should enable the participants to acquire self-confidence when they are confronted with new experiences, attitudes and behaviours; to acquire or cultivate skills, competences and knowledge contributing to social or personal development.
In this view, plays a fundamental role the intercultural dimension of the project itself: youth exchanges always increase young people's  positive awareness of other cultures and support dialogue and intercultural encounters with other young people comin' from different cultural backgrounds. Tolerance, understanding and respect for diversity, these are the key-words to understand how a project of this kind is made, and what it's made of: people who have in common the same objective, that is to say  the same will to know each other; they're infact suyrely involved with their active participation in preparation and evaluation part of the project itself. Not so far from the principal aim of a project is another important feature. A Youth exchange also gives you the possibility to learn a new language: we all know that linguistical differences are the first obstacle to the mutual comprehension; trying to overcome this wall of unknown is the first step each one of us could make to understand something in a better way. Staying in contact with people coming from different realities, being them of a social, cultural or linguistical nature is probably the best opportuinity we have in learning how to learn.

Gianluca

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