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Fostering creativity in adult learners with disabilities through arts
Start date: Oct 1, 2009,

The project FOCAL with partners from DE, ES, HU, LT, NL, PL, SI focuses on fostering creativity in adult learners with special educational needs (SEN) through arts applying the approach of inclusive education.Scientific research and the experiences of adult educators indicate that having a broad spectrum of leisure activities especially in the field of creativity helps people with SEN to develop personal skills, to achieve personal goals and to join in the process of lifelong learning. Currently the available research on the impact of arts on learning demonstrates the correlation between quality arts instruction and cognition for learners in general and for learners with SEN, although much remains unknown. In all project countries there is still a lack of learning opportunities for people with SEN - especially in the field of inclusive learning, bringing together people with and without SEN.Against this background the project consortium proposes to implement the project FOCAL making use of the results two Grundtvig Learning Partnerships titled TIES and ACT WELL. These previous projects primarily focused on the exchange of experiences in the field of creative expression of learners with SEN through arts. These experiences will be incorporated into the main product of the project FOCAL – the CPD training course. The training to be developed is meant for adult educators who already work or who are planning to work with the final beneficiaries of the project. The final beneficiaries can be defined as learners who need special support in learning activities because of different grades of learning difficulties and/or sight/hear/sensory impairments and behaviour problems in the following called people with SEN.FOCAL wants to cause changes in adult education of learners with SEN. For that reason an important objective is to develop a more effective programme to bring people with and without SEN together in education programmes (inclusive approach). Furthermore the project partners will implement ways to involve learners with SEN in the process of lifelong learning. To reach these targets a manual based on a needs analysis, best practice and the latest scientific research will be developed. In addition the project will address the training of trainers in the field because teacher training is a key to creating awareness of importance of creative learning, to learner’s development and the skills to implement appropriate interventions.During the project the partners, experts in different fields of creative education working together with SEN teachers, will exchange about the state of art and national best practice examples. Based on that, they identify, discuss and elaborate ways, methods, tools and learning arrangements for the work with people with SEN. In this context the partners will develop new ways to use music, dance, drama, arts to give people with SEN new perspectives for their personal development and to improve their everyday life. For that reason every partner adopts and compiles different tasks of the project. The manual will be tested with the direct target group and the final beneficiaries in the different participating countries and in transnational context. Based on that a manual including a CPD course curriculum will be implemented. Through the manual it is possible that at least 100 adult educators from all over Europe get common guidelines and recommendations for their practical work so that a more specific work with the final beneficiaries is possible.FOCAL impacts on 3 levels:-Local: more inclusive education offers will be implemented.-National: the transfer workshops will rteach at least 175 representatives working in the field.- European: European dissemination conference and presentation of the project on European conferences will raise awareness for the topic. The implementation of 5 Grundtvig courses provides Europeanwide training opportunities for adult educators.

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