Our main objective for this project is to make both teachers and learners aware of the importance of critical thinking in language teaching along with digital tools, which will increase their marketability and employability. Our students either migrants or locals will consequently become responsible citizens who think critically and make appropriate judgments. The overall aim of the project is to develope digital and critical thinking skills for our students and teachers alike to strengthen social inclusion within Europe in order to contribute towards a peaceful and stable European society. Language learning through digital tools and critical thinking also fosters active social inclusion: it helps people to exchange and to converge, to broaden their way of thinking and to increase employability. We will achieve digital literacy based on the information we get from technical devices, which are, once again, shaping how adults and youth interact with each other in school, at home, and at large. How youth use multiple forms of media and technology, in concert with their commitments to community dialogue and social justice, as they learn to be participants in civic and democratic practices. Three Adult Education Institutions from Spain, Austria and Italy will take part in the project and all 3 have a very diverse learner groups and many immigrants. We are going to have 4 mobilities. Each partner will organize a schedule of LANCET meetings to work in three spheres: digital tools, critical thinking and blended learning. A project meeting at the start of the project will be essential on order to plan the various activities and workshops. There will be a final project meeting at the end in order to collect and analyse the result and to finalise the format of the booklet. During the final meeting we will also develop practical ideas concerning further dissemination. The methodology: PowerPoint presentation on project objectives, proposed activities; brain storming on critical thinking, blended learning and digital tools using the Internet, bibliography; task distributing about dissemination and results; preparing and filling a pre-project evaluation qestionnaire, analysis of results; distribution the tasks according to participants' interests, capabilities - group work; project logo design. The project results will be evidenced in the publication of a booklet. The booklet will consist on two sections: a compilation of the talks, comments on workshops and seminars from participating learners and staff. We will also produce a DVD with some interviews given by participants with good practices. Both booklet and DVD will remain available in the future and should be used by others. The second section will be a printed and downloadable portfolio of project results will prove to be a durable if not permanent resource for current and future EU citizens. Each of our schools plans to post similar details on their websites from the beginning of the project in September 2018. We hope to offer high quality learning opportunities through good and effective language teaching which incorporates cultural and social aspects, along with digital and critical thinking tools, basic for twenty first century life requirements. We as Adult Educators will also increase our competence in the above areas, through learning from each other, from organizing and participating in workshops and from participating in the language classes of our partner institutions. We want to focus on learners as well as teachers and want to increase the intercultural and digital competences of adult educators and their qualifications in the area of social inclusion. Blended learning offers a new field to improve digital skills for adults with little time to attend formal learning.
Due to migration movements , the influence of globalization and diversification tendencies in society, there is a need to strengthen inclusion in Europe to avoid social disharmony. It is important to encourage intercultural awareness and to create social cohesion within our diverse societies helped via digital and thinking tools. Language learning through digital tools and critical thinking fosters social inclusion and integration of citizens with different cutural, religious and educational backgrounds. Also, it helps people to exchange and to converge as well as to broaden their way of thinking and to increase employability. This project helps to achieve digital literacy based on the information we get from technical devices, which are shaping how adults and youth interact with each other in school, at home, and at large. How youth use multiple forms of media and technology, in concert with their commitments to community dialogue and social justice, as they learn to be participants in civic and democratic practices. Students can become aware of how to process the immense load of information we are facing nowadays and how to deal it efficiently. Three Adult Education Institutions from Spain, Austria and Italy took part in the project and all 3 have a very diverse learner groups and many immigrants: 1.- EOI Ronda, an Official Language School , which offered the efectiveness of blending learning and generational gaps teaching approach. 2.- Institut für Interdisziplinäre Bildung: Offered THINK Innovativ,THINK Interdisciplinary, THINK outside the Box. They support schools in the development and implementation of an eEducation school concept for the school location. 3.- Euroform RFS: Offered its experience and contribution in innovative learning methods towards visually impaired people using IT aids, and specific devices meant to cope early leavers and also with adult learners with the aim of filling the gap between traditional training methods and the ones related to visually impaired people. They are specialized in training and career guidance a wide range of courses, as IT and languages, in several sectors. Each partner organized a schedule of LANCET meetings to work in three spheres: digital tools, critical thinking and blended learning. partners from Italy presented he digital tool KIALO, a Visit to “World International School of Torino”, International private school, promoter of critical thinking development, and the Management meeting @ Euroform RFS office was explained. Also, they presented the tool Animaker (https://www.animaker.com/). A platform for beginners, non-designers & professionals to create Animation and Live-Action videos (linked to visual thinking concept). It helps to team up our students into multiple workgroups, share projects and get instant feedback, and it instantly tracks our students’ progress with creative assignments. Austria presented a virtual lesson on BEEBOT'S, A SIMPLE TOOL TO LEARN NOT ONLY CODING where we got an insight into elementary robotics and programming with the help of codes. Learnig Coding encourages the analytical & foresighted thinking. Partners from Spain predented G-Suite & Moodle:• Google tools and services tailored for schools and homeschools; Manfred Spitzer´s reseach which shows that society changes due to the use of TV, Video, Computers and Mobiles, digital gadgetsin general, for instance, the more TV children watch the less (and lower) education they get, plus less attention by theirparents; blended learning, Technology approach: benefits and drawbacks. We increase our competence in the above areas, through learning from each other, from organizing and participating in workshops and from participating in the language classes of our partner institutions. We want to focus on learners as well as teachers and want to increase the intercultural and digital competences of adult educators and their qualifications in the area of social inclusion. Blended learning offers a new field to improve digital skills for adults with little time to attend formal learning. Comparative analysis given by each partner´s experience teaching in these fileds has enhanced the European dimension of our transnationality. And with critical thinking skills we can be trusted to make decisions independently, and will not need constant handholding. The participation in project implemention results in self-confidence, self-esteem , opportunities to gain enjoyment and satisfaction from joint work for the favour of the Educational Institutions. The project builds the use of digital media, thinking tools and blended learning to develope different types of intelligence as well as the individual identity and pride of success. By implementing the porject´s goals we acquire various skills necessary for the current job market and in interpersonal contacts and ongoing projects.