Education Skills for Unionists

About

Don’t have a dedicated educator in your union? This is the course for you!

This course is designed to build affiliate internal capacity for organisers and other officials to delivery training to delegates – learn more about the ATUI’s Delegate Development Program here.

It will equip participants with basic skills and knowledge to effectively engage adult learners and foster a cohesive and inclusive learning environment. It covers key principles of adult learning and methodologies and frameworks that have informed trade union education.

Participants will develop a comprehensive understanding of how adults learn and be able to apply these principles to design and deliver effective sessions suitable to their audience and learning context.

Outcomes

At the end of this course participants will be able to:

• Explain the principles of adult learning
• Identify barriers adults may face returning to structured learning environments
• Discuss why education is inherently political and identify theories that have shaped trade union education
• Identify the stages of learning (the learning ladder) and reflect on their application to practice
• Identify strategies that foster and maintain a safe and inclusive learning environment
• Write a session plan for a specific union audience
• Develop engaging content and methodology to deliver learning outcomes

Content

Optimise Learning for adults

Overview of key learning theories
Adult learning principles
Understanding barriers to learning

Creating a Safe and Inclusive Learning Environment

Establishing ground rules and expectations
Promoting a culture of respect and collaboration
Managing dynamics and conflicts

Session Planning and preparation

Contextualising content and resources to meet specific learning objectives
Components of session plans (objectives, content methodology, resources)
Selecting appropriate teaching methods (discussions, hands-on activities)
Techniques for maintaining interest and motivation
Gathering feedback from participants
Reflection

It is intended that participants will develop a session during the course that they will be able to deliver to delegates/members/staff back at a workplace they organise or their own union.

Delivery Style

This course will model teaching techniques and involve a range of methodologies including facilitated discussion, small group work and interactive activities.

Prerequisite

None