Background to the Materials

The initial task of the ASSET group was to undertake research into the current availability of professional development opportunities and qualifications for adult educators within each of the eight partner countries.

This was followed by research amongst serving and potential adult education teachers in all eight countries as to what content would be most useful and appropriate in the proposed ASSET tool-kit.

Following the research, the designated editorial team began to commission and/or develop the required materials.

Throughout the life of the project, there has been a collective approach to planning, developing and testing materials so that in a very real sense, the materials you see on this website are the product of the collaborative efforts of all of us. However, certain partners took on the responsibility of producing and managing specific parts of the tool-kit as follows:

Learner Centred Methodologies
University College Dublin , Ireland

Learner Support
Znanie Association, Sofia , Bulgaria

Valuing Diversity
Växjö Kommun , Sweden

The initial materials were piloted with representatives from each partner organisation at a pilot workshop held in Prague in June 2005. After modification and refinement following the feedback received, they were subsequently tested as web-based materials by a total of 40 representatives from partner organisations during January 2006. Their feedback was thoroughly discussed at a Partnership meeting in Athens in March 2006 and the final version which you know see before you was agreed.

From the start of the project it was clear that words often had slightly different nuances in different countries. (e.g. 'teacher', 'tutor' and 'educator' suggest different roles in different countries). The vocabulary adopted therefore is that of the individual editor.

We hope you find the tool-kit a useful resource and would welcome any feedback you wish to give us.

John Perry
Project Manager
j.perry@lmc.ac.uk