TOT

RCAMS PROGRAMME

Training of Trainers (ToT)

The ToT course is a long term training course and takes place over the course. It targets newcomer trainers who want to work internationally and puts a focus on all six areas of the ETS Competence Model for Trainers. The main goal is to train trainers who are motivated to take part in continually improving the quality of projects under the Erasmus : Youth in Action Programmer.

Within the ToT course, participants have the chance to further develop their competences as a trainer. In line with the Canadian  Training Strategy, ToT considers the following competences as essential when working as a non-formal education trainer  within  RECAMS : Youth in Action:

Understand and facilitate individual and group learning processes.

Design educational programmers.

Direct one's own learning (Learning to Learn)

Co-operate successfully in teams.

Communicate meaningfully with others.

Intercultural Competence.

Participants enter the ToT course from various levels of prior experience and bring along a portfolio of competences - consequently, their learning needs are different. The educational approach implemented in the ToT course intends to allow for these different learning needs to be identified and pursued. At the core of this process is the competence of the participant to direct his/her own learning. The group as a source for peer learning and the trainers as facilitators of these learning processes are essential pillars of this approach.

The ToT course lasts a year and consists of:

three residential seminars

an international training project you design and run with other participants

ongoing e-learning

ongoing mentoring with one of the course trainers as your mentor

learning commitments

Current ToT Course

This course requires participants to invest a considerable among to: in total you should allow for at least 54 days:

27 seminar days (including travel)

12 days overall for the training project (preparatory work, prep meeting and the course itself)

15 days for following the personal learning commitments, online work, peer learning, mentor talks etc.

Participants are expected to

have already been involved at least three times in a team of trainers designing, implementing and evaluating a training course in the framework of non-formal education

have international experience in the youth work field with a function of responsibility (not only as a participant) – organizing international youth projects, leading a youth exchange, mentoring volunteers, etc.

have the potential and need to develop training competences and act after the course as a trainer for North American Youth in Action projects and/or for training courses organized by the National Agencies of the Rcams: Youth in Action programmer

show initiative and willingness to self-direct their own learning process

be prepared to reflect upon and question their own beliefs and approaches as trainers

be able to run training courses in English.

The ToT courses are delivered by a Canadian trainers team consisting of .

Participants are selected by the National Agencies of the rcams: Youth in Action Programmed which covers the expenses related to the participation in the course (travel, board and lodging, fee). Participation fees need to be checked with your National Agency, they might differ from country to country.

                                                               TOT - TRAINING OF TRAINERS - BASIC LEVEL/ rcams

Objectives

The main objective of the 10 day training is to form trainers focusing on experiential outdoor training techniques and to explore and share experience and build skills in the field of adult education.

Specific learning goals:
What is outdoor education?
Why outdoor education?
Outdoor education principles
Models in outdoor education
Planning an outdoor course
Risk and safety management
 Facilitation

Practical Sessions:
Problem solving exercises
Expedition - a tool of learning
 To plan, to run and to evaluate an outdoor activity

Ropes work:
Knots
Belaying school
Building low Ropes Course elements
Climbing, abseiling
 Ropes Course as training tool

Methodology
Concerning the method used in the training, Outward Bound offers course participants the opportunity to actively explore themselves and their relations with others. At the heart of this process is ‘experiential education’ or learning by doing. At Outward Bound, as in our daily lives, changes in behavior and in understanding occur as a result of the practical experience of coping with real-life situations or problems. This is a learning process which engages the whole of the learner’s person - intellectually, emotionally, as well as physically. Our outdoor activities are unique and exciting. But we believe that it's not enough to merely be active together as a group: in order for real learning to take place, action needs to be grounded in reflection. We don’t do any outdoor activities just for the 'kick' reflection are channeled back into action. The experiential learning cycle we used during the whole training is based on plan-do-review.
 For theoretical inputs we use two methods: the inductive and the deductive way. In some cases theoretical models are presented first and the experiences are reviewed with the help of these models, in other cases models are deducted from the experience itself. In the third part of the training participants organize scenarios and through meta-reflection sessions they get feedback both from their colleagues and the trainers.

Contribution:

You have the possibility to attend through Rcams program too. In this case please contact us.

Working language: English

Type of certification of attendance awarded:

1) Outward Bound certificate of attendance
 2) Certificate as adult educator, accredited by the Romanian Ministry of Education and Work

Conditions to participate:

- higher education diploma

- active participation for the entire duration of the program

- open for physical and mental challenges

- conversational English

Profile of the participants:

- who would like develop themselves on the trainig field (ex. youth workers, trainer asistants,trainers)

- who would like to develop themselves in the field of outdoor education (teachers, HR specialists, consultants, coaches, social workers, members and leaders of non-profit organizations)

- who would like to develop themselves in the field of outdoor education

Program of the training activities day by day:

  1st day
Arrival (until about 6PM)
2nd day
Getting to know each other activities
Fears and expectations
Course program and objectives
Course contract
Outward Bound history
Theoretical input (Models used in outdoor education)
Teambuilding activities
Preparation for the expedition
3rd -5th day
Outdoor Expedition
Theoretical inputs
Evaluation of the expedition
6th day
Theoretical input (Experiential learning in outdoor setting)
Low ropes elements as learning tools (theory and practice)
7th day
Theoretical input (Debriefing outdoor experiential learning programs)
High Ropes elements as learning tools (theory and practice)
8th day
Theoretical input (outdoor training program design)
Scenarios (participants design, deliver and debrief outdoor activities)
Feedback round after each scenario
9th day
Scenarios (participants design, deliver and debrief outdoor activities)
Feedback round after each scenario
 10th day
 Outdoor trainer’s skills assessment
Personal development action plan
Final evaluation
Preparation for the exam
11th day
Trainer Exam
 Departures (after 3PM)

The maximum number of the participants: 15 (considering the order of the applicant).

We reserve the right to change the program considering the weather, the participants needs and other circumstances.