Federation of Adult Education Associations
Paseo Fernando el Católico Nº 29, 1º Izda. E-50006 Zaragoza
Phone number: +34 976 553 773
http://www.faea.es e-mail:faea@faea.es
| Español 
FOCAL
FOCAL-Exploring the Possibilities of the Flexible Open Classroom in Adult Learning
Sócrates-Grundtvig 4 (Grundtvig Networks)
The objective of the FOCAL project is to explore the possibilities of the distant open adult education at different levels: teaching and learning methodologies, coordination of projects and organisations, teacher training and development of teaching and didactic materials. For that purpose, six European countries have created a virtual network where different entities and organisations experienced in the project topic take part.
Each participating organisation coordinates a working group at a national level. This group’s tasks are the creation of the network and the discussion and exchange of ideas with and among all the participant European working groups. The discussion takes part in a website especially developed for that purpose; all the participant countries share examples of good practice, common interests, needs, expectations, etc.. Moreover, they bring about methodologies, ideas and relevant documentation. This website is open to the general public and will be used as a means to disseminate the project results.
In most European countries, the use of Internet is widely spread along
all education levels, being very often part of the activities developed
in the classroom. However, the reality of the Spanish adult education centres
and organisations is somewhat different.
The use of Internet in Spain is basically focused on use skills training,
without having considered its use for coordination tasks and exchange of
experiences and materials.
FOCAL Network constitute a means for the organisations to use the new information and communication technologies, to create a working network where they all can be connected, allowing them, therefore, to exchange information and experiences, to develop didactic materials and to prepare meetings; All this will be the first step towards a greater implementation of the use of Internet in Adult Education.
The project is structured in two phases. During the first phase, the project website and the working network will be created http://www.statvoks.no/focal/. At the same time, each participating country will constitute a network at a national level. These networks are created and thought in order to discuss and exchange information about adult education among different individuals and organisations. FAEA network will be included in FAEA website www.faea.es. It will be made up by members of the Federation. The network will definitely allow the Federation members to keep a much more continuous and fluent contact.
En During the second phase of the project, the international network, originally made up by the project partners, will be expanded. That is, any organisation will be able to be part of the network and access to the internal section of the website.
Partnership of the project:
Coordinating Organisation:
- VOX-Voksenopplæringsinstituttet. Norway, http://www.vox.no
Partners:
- Erasmushogeschool Brussel, Belgium, http://www.erasmushogeschool.be
- VUC Østhimmerland, Denmark, http://www.vuc.edu
- FAEA, Federación de Asociaciones de Educación de Adultos, Spain, http://www.faea.es
- Albeda College, The Netherlands, http://www.albeda.nl
- Utbildningsförvaltningen i Göteborg, Sweden, http://www.educ.goteborg.se
- Vytauto Didziojo universitetas, Lithuania, http://www.vdu.lt
- Fáy András Szakközépiskola, Hungary
- University of Malta, Malta, http://www.um.edu.mt
