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Virtual Academy for Professionals in the field of ..
Virtual Academy for Professionals in the field of Education and Training of Vision Impaired People
Start date: Oct 1, 2016,
End date: Mar 31, 2019
PROJECT
FINISHED
This project main goal is to influence and conduct the modernization of the education and training system used in organizations working in the field of visual impairment directly focusing on their professional bodies, bridging a deficiency of available specific training in this area in many of the participating countries, while, at the same time, promoting the exchange of experience and know-how between different types of organizations involved in education, training and youth in common subjects, transversal to all types of interventions with blind and low vision people.The project aims to widen the knowledge of these professionals by using digital technologies in rehabilitation services, educational training programs and vocational education and training (VET) of blind and visually impaired people.This goal is to be achieved through the organization of every aspect implied in the development of two online training courses, about “Coaching Orientation and Mobility” and "Developing Visually Impaired People Soft Skills", from the use of the LMS, curricula, content, certification, methods of administration and training support, etc - creating a Virtual Academy.The participant organizations all work in rehabilitation, education and vocational training of visually impaired people of all ages, except the partner providing the Learning Management System. The aim of the partnership is to create a standard resource on the various rehabilitation services for people with vision impairment in Europe and to propose a model of education, training and rehabilitation services for visually impaired people in all EU countries. During the project life the next activities will be performed:1. Observing existed curricula both on national and EU level; Appointing working groups for developing Raw curricula; Evaluating and improving raw curricula; Conforming to ECVET terminology criteria. 2. Developing two Curricula based on the raw curricula.3. Evaluating the Curricula4. Selection and consolidation of available course modules from partners; 5. Methodology guidance for Web Based Training will be developed and presented focusing also on the needs of visually impaired trainers. 6. Setup of the E-Learning courses using Web Based Training; Develop course modules in EN7. Executing of pilot course; Evaluating pilot course and introduce improvements to the developed courses accordingly; 8. Online publishing course materials in English;9. Translation of the course material in to the languages of the partner countries; 10. Web-page, leaflet, poster and DVD with all intellectual outputs will be developed11. 7 international meetings will be held.12. Multiplier events will be held: an International Conference and 7 internal national workshops in partner countries, for professionals and organizations working in this area, and a raising awareness event ("Dinner in the Dark"), for media and other fields professionals, outside of visual impairment area; 13. The project envisages a lot of dissemination activities, e.g. press-releases, broadcasts, social media presence (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter).14 Internal evaluation of meetings, events, training materials, pilot course will be constantly held. The new curricula on e-learning platform and training courses are expected to have a strong impact both in the short and in the long run: participants will be able to try this new learning tool, all of them being professionals working in rehabilitation and vocational training centres for Visual Impaired People. In the long run, since seven of the partners are members of ENVITER network where 27 service providers for the focus group from 17 countries of the EU are represented, the proposed project will enable organizations to maximize the impact of lifelong learning developments and the use of e-learning methods to provide for the need of special training for their staff. All results are to be shared through a project website and through EUNESIS (EUropean NEtworking for Sensory Impairment Solutions) Knowledge BaseBetter Training for professionals make possible better support of people with disabilities: children, adults or elderly people, in taking into account the specificities of the visual impairment and also the impact of the visual impairment on the person depending on his/her age.