Multimedia and e-Learning integration for supporting training programs in agriculture by MOODLE

The NODES project aims at facilitating, for adult training / lifelong training, the use of multimedia knowledge to improve competitiveness employability and mobility of handicapped adults (physical and sensorial) and of adults victims of the digital divide or of some of its components such as distance, initial level of knowledge, language, use of complex technologies. The NODES project is focused, on the wide sense, on the production and diffusion of knowledge created within public and private organizations dedicated to adult training or by individuals, through Europe. Within the project the MOODLE e-Learning system was selected and more multimedia content will be integrated into the knowledge base. The EU-Index metadatabase collects content sources for the project partners. Another target is to integrate video files into the systems. This parts are integrated by the logical and physical architectures of the NODES

Building a Firm Foundation: Recommendations for New York City's Job Training System

In late 1998, the New York City Department of Employment (DOE) decided to develop a technical assistance plan for its contracted employment and training providers. The goal of this initiative was to help providers transition to a new performance-based contracting system and improve their overall performance. This report describes P/PV's evaluation of the New York City Job Training Partnership Act adult training providers; discusses challenges faced by providers; and recommends strategies for improving the performance of New York City's employment and training system

Pedagogy and adult training: A trainer’s manual

This manual, to be used to train adult participants, is designed with features to help overcome the challenges faced in delivering such training service. For one it promotes interactive, experience-based, practical and impact-oriented approaches based on various experiences. This involves role plays, hands-on exercises and training materials that are designed for trainers to deliver the service effectively. The course is based on case studies and shared learning from a large number of developing countries with agriculture, climate change and animal science focus. The training manual is divided into seven sessions. Session 1 defines adult learning; Session 2 explains the principles of designing and planning of a training program; Session 3 describes the course introductory session; Session 4 elaborates on guidelines for effective teaching styles for adults; Session 5 explains the different styles involved in adult training; Session 6 describes training aids or materials that can be used to support the training; and Session 7 covers the steps to be taken to evaluate and measure the impact of an adult training course. Each manual session has four parts to facilitate its use as a practical training guide, whereby each session can be implemented as a stand-alone course. The first part of a session gives a summarized introduction of the session. The second part contains session guide, objectives to be achieved and the training activities and requirements. The third part of each session contains slides that can be used in plenary presentation. The fourth part contains detailed notes to be used by the trainer or given out to the course participants. Each session then ends with a list of references used and recommended reading. The manual’s goal is to strengthen trainers and their faculties’ capacities to design, disseminate (or conduct) and evaluate the impact of adult trainings forums and their development as ‘Trainer of Trainers’

Money Matters - Evidence from a Large-Scale Randomized Field Experiment with Vouchers for Adult Training

This paper presents the results of a randomized experiment analyzing the use of vouchers for adult training. In 2006, 2,400 people were issued with a training voucher which they were entitled to use in payment for a training course of their choice. User behavior was compared with a control group of 14,000 people. People in the treatment and in the control group were not aware at any time that they were part of an experiment. The experiment shows that the voucher had a significant causal impact on participation in training modules. Nevertheless, the increase was partially offset by a deadweight loss in excess of fifty percent.field experiment, voucher, adult education, training, Switzerland

E-learning Aspects of NODES Project

The NODES project aims at promoting the use, in adult training/lifelong learning, of multimedia knowledge, in order to facilitate competitiveness, employability and mobility of adults who are victims of the digital divide or of some of its components, such as distance, initial level of knowledge, language, and use of complex technologies. Our task in the project is studying the existing free or commercial licenses e-learning software. The aim of the investigation of these systems is surveying the most important functional features, modules, standards, and hardware and software requirements. After the comparison of the e-Learning systems by several methods, have to evaluate the most important parameters, which are suitable suggestion for the project management. These parameters were evaluated. Reviewing these parameters, our suggestion is the Moodle or the aTutor

Adult training as a quality factor in work trajectory: positive effects of adult training on seniority and ageing at work

Adult training is a fundamental strategy for the improvement of workers’ skills and employability. However, as workers age and remain in the same company, the risk of losing motivation for learning may grow. In a sample of 1,452 workers from 17 Spanish companies, we analyzed to what extent the training factor increases their quality of employment and the assessment they make of their organization, despite the negative effect of the passing of time. To do so, we implemented a structural equation model that considered the effects of the variables “seniority in the company” and “training” on quality of employment. We tested this model through multigroup analysis by differentiating between workers aged under 50 and those aged 50 years and older, showing that the positive effect of training is stronger in older workers and reduces the negative effect of seniority in the company for those aged under 50

Education and Training Needs in the Field of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Lower Danube Region

Given the conditions of European Strategy for Labour which was ratified also by Romania, that states an intensifying implementation at national level of labour policies and especially those regarding young person labour market integration, and taking into consideration the great human and agricultural potential of Lower Danube Region, we consider the implementation of national and regional programmes in order to train agriculture and rural development specialists to be very necessary. This article inquires the necessity of training agriculture and rural development specialists within Lower Danube Region in the context of cross-border cooperation between Romania and Bulgaria. This research starts by analysing the European and national legal framework of adult training in those two fields. Subsequently, the main premises and advantages of those activities were emphasized. It is good to mention that the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, Romania, and the D. Tsenov Academy of Economics in Svishtov, Bulgaria, proposed themselves to cooperate in the field of “human resources development – common development of skills and knowledge”. The legal base exists as the Romania-Bulgaria Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013 is enforced. Furthermore, a four years comparative study of the number of persons trained for the main jobs in rural area, including farmer, in Lower Danube Region was conducted. All these led to the idea that it is necessary to continue and to stress adult training of farmers and rural specialists as a solution for rural economy development and social welfare. Also, comparative analysis of supply and demand of professionals in the field of agriculture was elaborated. The main educational programs in training agriculture and rural development specialists were identified and some problems and perspectives were worked out. This research can be considered as a first step of future deeper and profound collaboration of Tsenov Academy of Economics, Svishtov and the Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest in terms of creation of common Romanian-Bulgarian Research Area, as a part of European Research Area (ERA). It includes joint knowledge and skills development through cross-border linkages and exchanges between the universities, in accordance with Romania – Bulgaria Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013.rural development, agriculture, training, cross-border cooperation, Lower Danube Region

Modern training technologies for adult education

У статті розглянуті нові технології навчання, які спонукають дорослих до оволодіння сучасними знаннями; визначені засади, на яких побудована нова модель технології навчання дорослих.The paper focuses on new training technologies that encourage adults to master up-to-date knowledge. There have been defined underlying principles of the new model of adult training technology