Nové metódy vzdelávania pre učiace sa komunity seniorov

<< Background >>The impetus for submitting the project was the need to address the challenges we encountered when working with older adults. It became evident that several of our trainers lacked sufficient expertise in new methods of working with seniors and were missing methodological support for implementing innovative approaches.Through the project, we aimed to introduce new topics and modern methods into educational programmes to make learning for seniors more attractive and to increase their motivation to participate in activities. At the same time, we needed to strengthen the readiness of both our internal and external teams to work with seniors, particularly in the areas of digital skills and community learning.We were convinced that investing in the professional development of trainers would contribute to improving the quality and accessibility of education for seniors and would support their active ageing and engagement in the local community.<< Objectives >>The aim of the project was to expand the professional capacity of our teams for educational work with seniors. We focused on developing trainers’ skills in areas we consider crucial – digital skills for seniors, creating learning communities, and the theoretical foundations of working with older adults.At the same time, we wanted to create a space for sharing experiences and inspiration among organisations that have been engaged in this field for a long time. Mutual learning between partners was, for us, a valuable tool for improving practice.An important goal was also to highlight opportunities for senior education in different regions of the participating countries and to contribute to their better awareness, motivation, and active involvement in learning in later life.<< Implementation >>During the project, we implemented a series of educational and implementation activities aimed at achieving the set goals.At the beginning of the project, a training course was held in Slovakia focusing on the specifics and trends of educational work with seniors, where participants deepened their theoretical knowledge and acquired new methods for working with this target group.In Poland, we continued with training focused on new methods in the field of seniors’ digital skills. This training was practice-oriented and provided participants with tools for educating seniors in a digital environment.In Greece, a training session was held on the creation and facilitation of learning communities for seniors, including peer learning and fostering social interaction.In parallel with these activities, we developed a web portal for trainers working with seniors, bringing together blogs and examples of good practice in the field of senior education.The practical part of the project culminated in the Senior Learning Academy in Trnava, during which we engaged around 100 seniors from Trnava and the surrounding area.Throughout the project, management activities were ongoing, including partner coordination and budget management.<< Results >>One of the main outputs of the project was a web portal for trainers working with seniors, which contains blogs, tips, and methodological materials focused on the education of older adults, particularly in the areas of digital skills, psychology, health, and community learning.In Trnava, we organized the Senior Learning Academy, during which more than 100 seniors participated in educational activities.Increase in teaching capacity (18+ trained educators in 3 EU countries. The project significantly increased the professional preparedness and motivation of trainers in the participating organizations. Training participants adopted new approaches that they can continue to apply in their educational work in the long term.An important benefit was also the international exchange – sharing good practices and undertaking study visits to organizations with long-standing experience in senior education enriched the participants with concrete inspirations and new ideas.