Achim Puhl, DIE
Background
Social background of this project is the necessity of continuing further education in the process o lifelong learning in connection with the increasing importance of self-directed learning. The intention of cultural and continuing education institutes in this respect is to provide learning possibilities which go beyond their traditional services. The spectrum ranges from innovative didactic conceptions and educational counsel to ‘knowledge service’ via internet.
Conception
Content of the academic work of this project at the German Institute for Adult Education (DIE) is the subject „design and changes of learning arrangements in an institutional context". The central aim of the project work is counselling as well as providing academic and scientific support, evaluation and analysis of implementations of new learning possibilities and learning environments in the Stuttgart city library (Stadtbücherei Stuttgart). The exemplary results and findings of the field of research will be adapted in order to support other cultural and continuing education institutions.
‘Library 21’ (Bibliothek 21)
In the project framework the city library shows itself to be particularly innovative. In the context of the plans for a new building of the ‘Library 21’ it is the city library’s special endeavour to develop future-oriented models of learning possibilities and knowledge structuring. One essential part of this conception – among others – is the integration of counselling activities and services into the process of self-directed learning. The project’s special focus is to examine the fields „Learning Studios" (Lernateliers), „Art Rooms" (Kunsträume), „Virtual Knowledge-Platforms" (Virtuelle Wissensplattformen) and ‘Local Libraries’ (Stadtteilbibliotheken).
Monitoring
The project is accompanied by a council of experts from the field of science and practice.
Tasks
In the context of the project the following tasks and aims are carried out and developed:
• Evaluation and examination of experience with innovative conceptions in the field of self-directed learning,
• analysis of the structural basic conditions of the new building,
• scientific investigation of the interests of the library’s users / visitors, employees and organisation
• counselling and monitoring the process of conception development of new learning arrangements,
• realization and evaluation of the developed conceptions,
• staff training and qualifying,
• linking-up / creating a network of further and continuing education organisations,
• development of transfer-methods / guidelines for other institutions,
• documentation of the process.
Aims
The aim of the EFIL-project is to make an essential contribution to the organisational development in cultural and continuing education institutions – in the context of a future „knowledge- and education-society". It develops conceptions which can be carried out, transferred and applied independently from size and orientation of the respective organisation / institution.
Results
Based on the results of the investigation of the library’s users projects in the fields „Learning Studios" (Lernateliers) and „Art Rooms" (Kunsträume) were realised. The main results therefore were – among others:
• Users are mostly young and of a relatively high level of education
• They visit the library for mostly personal reasons
• They are mostly frequent users
• Users want to be motivated
• The library offers few possibilities of getting in touch with other people
• More than the half of the users would give their personal expert-knowledge to others who might need it
• Users need counselling
• Users need information-service
• Elderly people have difficulties with the orientation in the library and the finding of media
• Elderly people have difficulties in retrieving computer-based information
• The place where users would like to have the media is not necessarily the library
The following projects were carried out:
• Counselling of learners of the English language
• Literature in the garden
• Exhibition „Arts in the garden"
• Literature of foreign countries accompanied by typical food and music
• Optical connection of two different sections in the library
Detailed results will be presented at the conference and are available there in the printed form of the slideshow.
Project Team
Achim Puhl
Dept. Training and Consultancy
DIE-External Project Office Neu-Ulm
Schubertstrasse 35
D – 98231 Neu-Ulm
Phone: ++49 (0)731 – 725 48 66
Fax: ++49 (0)731 – 725 48 67
Email: puhl@die-frankfurt.deRichard Stang
Dept. Training and Consultancy
German Institute for Adult Education (DIE e.V.)
Hansaallee 150
D – 60320 Frankfurt / Main
Phone: ++49 (0)69 – 9 56 26 – 126
Fax: ++49 (0)69 – 9 56 26 – 174
Email: stang@die-frankfurt.deClaudia Loch (Project Secretariat)
Dept. Training and Consultancy
Phone: ++49 (0)69 – 9 56 26 – 272
Fax: ++49 (0)69 – 9 56 26 – 174
Email: loch.claudia@die-frankfurt.de
Project Homepage (in German)
http://www.die-frankfurt.de/efil