Training of Trainers

Aims & objectives

Within the ToT course, participants have the chance to further develop their competences as a trainer. In line with the European Training Strategy, ToT considers the following competences as essential when working as a non-formal education trainer within Erasmus+: Youth in Action:

.Understand and facilitate individual and group learning processes.
.Design educational programs.
.Direct one's own learning (Learning to Learn)
.Co-operate successfully in teams.
.Communicate meaningfully with others.
.Intercultural Competence.
.Political Competence.

The ToT course lasts a year and consists of:

.three residential seminars
.an international training project you design and run with other participants
.ongoing e-learning
.ongoing mentoring with one of the course trainers as your mentor
.learning commitments

Target group & international/intercultural composition of the group & team

This training course is co-ordinated by the SALTO Training and Cooperation Resource Centre on behalf of participating National Agencies and SALTO Resource Centres for the Erasmus+: Youth in Action Programme of the European Union.
The team of trainers is Anita Silva, Gabi Steinprinz and Paul Kloosterman.

Training methods used & main activities

The educational approach implemented in the ToT-course intends to allow for different learning needs to be identified and pursued. At the core of this process is the competence of the participant to direct his/her own learning. The group as a source for peer learning and the trainers as facilitators of these learning processes are essential pillars of this approach. A special feature of the course is the mentoring. Each member of the trainer’s team is responsible for mentoring 8 individual participants. The methods used during the seminars include: reflection exercises, presentations, debates, small group work, educational games and online learning.

Outcomes of the activity

The overall evaluation by participants was very positive (participants are asked to evaluate the training after each seminar) even if the training course faced some challenging moments. Both trainers and Na's recognize the value of the training course and keep actively looking for improvements.

An impact survey was held in 2011 (before I joined the team) and it can be found here: https://www.salto-youth.net/downloads/4-17-2426/ToT%20-%20pathways%20of%20ex-participants.pdf

Your tasks and responsibilities within the team

Trainer

I worked on this training for 27 seminar days + 15 days supporting online learning days as a full time trainer.