Lessons learned
Project partners have a critical view of the implementation of both trainings thanks to the pilot courses carried out in Burgos, Lisbon and Belgrade. Some ‘lessons learned’ have been outlined from the experience of the entities that delivered the pilots, from the thoughts of the professionals involved in and from data collected through an evaluation framework based on the Kirkpatrick’s Model.
As a result, a list of strengths and weaknesses of the courses developed by the IPA+ partnership is based on the trainers ’views and trainees’ feedback.
These highlights are relevant and should be taken into consideration by those who aim at launching these courses in their own professional context.
Strenghts
- Training available in two different skill levels: comprehensive and expert.
- Transcultural and interdisciplinary perspective.
- Evidence-based practical and theoretical contents.
- Previous experience in eLearning tools or requirement of basic IT skills.
- Previous experience in training activities focused on autism.
- Availability of the course in four languages.
- Training based on a pilot experience with a complete evaluation of the courses.
- Remote access to the courses by MOODLE.
- The training can be joined by students at any time.
- Timing to carry out the modules can be adapted to the needs of the trainer.
Weaknesses
- Contents included in the courses are based on up-to-date knowledge (2018).
- Necessity of an eLearning platform to include training contents and materials.
- Possible loss of meaning and quality of the contents due to subsequent translations into local languages.
- Need of a team of professionals behind the deployment of the training to be available for the students, to monitor and correct activities, etc.
- Difficulty to attend the face-to-face sessions.
- The use of MOODLE can be simplified through certain plug-ins or adjustments, but they must be done by a technician.
- More practical strategies and examples from the practice.
- Lack of webinars or audio lectures to complete the presentation of each module.
- Possible need of some financial resources to perform the courses (i.e. technical support).
- Necessity to connect and network professionals from different fields.