Sample Group Trainings were provided in Lithuania
The target group of IVALIP project in Lithuania are the administrators of Public
Internet Access Points – PIAPs.
If to look just from the technical point – PIAP in the rural area is a place
usually with 3-5 computers and one multifunctional equipment, as well as
internet connection. All PIAP visitors can use computers and internet when IT is
necessary for their work, learning, leisure, e-services, etc. The use of
computers and internet is free of charge. Additional services, such as printing,
scanning, copying and faxing, usually are charged at a quite small price, just
to cover the expenses.
Today Lithuania has a network of more than 800 PIAPs that cover the whole
territory of the country. Most of PIAPs (over 90 %) are established in the
libraries in rural areas. Library and PIAP together in many rural areas have
become the key centres of the local community attracting people of different
ages, occupations and having different needs. Library and PIAP together are able
to provide not only traditional library services but a lot of new services, such
as Communication (Skype, e–mail), LIBIS – Libraries’ information system, helping
visitors in using e-services (banking, e-health, e-shop, income tax
e-declaration etc.), training visitors to use computers and Internet,
e-government services promotion.
PIAP administrators serve disadvantaged groups of population in Lithuania. Most
of them live and work in rural areas. In Lithuania the residents of rural areas
usually are socially, geographically and digitally excluded, have lower income
and fewer possibilities to get access to IT and different services. Because of
that reason the possibility to participate in life with the help of information
technologies in PIAPs is crucially important for them.
Sample group training
In October - November of 2009 Association LIA / Window to the Future together
with the Association of Rural Internet Access Points organized three events for
PIAP administrators. The main purpose of these events was to present new
e-services and new ideas and possibilities to organize PIAP work in a more
interesting way. One part of the events was theoretical. The other – interactive
/ practical, in which IVALIP project and some of its activities were introduced
to PIAP administrators working with adult people. 80 PIAP administrators
participated in the organized activities.
The content of the training was as following:
- At the beginning of the interactive part IVALIP project with its purposes,
partners, reached results and also expected final results were shortly
presented. Also the content of full training seminar was described.
- In the practical part of each event approximately 30 participants were
involved. As smaller groups for training we needed, all PIAP administrators were
divided into smaller groups. As a result 3 groups with up to 10 PIAP
administrators were formed in each event.
- 5 activities from IVALIP train-the-trainer seminar and 2 additional activities
that are special for the sample group (PIAP administrators) were put in
practice.
Feedback of the training
Training workshops of sample groups were really useful and fun.
Why the training is useful?
- Active involvement of all participants ensures better knowing each other and
understanding the activities;
- For our target group – PIAP tutors – it provides good new ideas for adult
training, combining theoretical and practical tasks;
- The variety of methods – learning is not boring;
- Choosing from the big list of training activities we can structure optimal
trainings in various situations – according to the target group, purposes,
length of the training etc.;
- These methods of training can be used for people working in different fields
of adult education. It can be computer literacy teaching (as in Lithuania) or
other fields as well;
- The advantage of the training was that PIAP tutors learnt new ideas and
activities which will be used in their everyday work;
- And last but not least the training workshop was fun for learners and for
trainers :)
Photos from trainings