InterAct Internet-based problem solving role-play in working life

1. InterActInternet-based problem solving role-play in working life Randi Husemoen Margrethe Marstrøm Svensrud

2. InterAct • Model for enhancing Basic Skills at the workplace • Problem solving role-plays / simulations • Internet-based learning platform • Flexibility • Short term, well structured activities • Learner centred activities within predefined frames Enhance basic skills Motivation Maintain skills

3. What happens? Problem solving role-plays/ simulations

4. The simulation Welcome & The first task

5. The simulation: The roles I am Anne Nurse, 34, from Finland • Skjermbildedump My house My favourite food

6. One solution What should we do and why?

7. The simulation: Negotioations

8. Motivational factors • Real communication between participants • The simulation resembles reality • A playful and engaging approach • Active participants, but tutors are important • Peer learning contributes to lowering the fear of performance • Room for creativity

9. Output Meaningful training in • The use of the Internet and relevant software • Reading and writing • Communication • Creating documents • Taking initiative • Finding solutions to problems • Negotiations • Working in groups to find joint solutions

10. Developed through European projects • Foreign language learning in formal education • Basic skills at the workplace • ICT-skills, language learning, international trade and intercultural awareness in the field of business and administration

11. InterAct in Basic Competence in Working Life (BCW) • Apply InterAct to different contexts • Learning activities internal in single organisation • Learning activities in co-operation between organisations

12. Experiences from BCW • InterAct in Akershus University Hospital • InterAct in three enterprises Rehabilitation related to employability • Lillehammer Produkter AS • Lunner Produkter AS • Valdres Kompetansevekst AS

13. InterAct in Akershus University Hospital • Preparing to move into a fully digitalised hospital • New ways of organising the hospital • New tasks and functions • Need for new competences • 18 cleaners participated • Participants from seven countries • Poor skills in Norwegian • Most of them had low ICT skills

14. InterAct in three enterprises • Rehabilitation related to employability • 13 participants – both regular employees and employees in rehabilitation • Continuously dependant on new commissions • Need for especially adapted tasks for employees on job rehabilitation • Employees involved in the adaptation of the production due to changes in the market • Need for strengthening the basic skills to • take part in the processes above • to strengthen their employability • to apply for regular jobs • Each enterprise too small to develop an autonomous learning environment

15. Why InterAct? • The enterprises wanted to try new learning models • Learning objectives • Motivate for the ongoing changes and the new tasks • Better oral and written language skills • Improve digital competences • Increase self esteem

16. Lesson learned • Two very different target groups • One group with mainly immigrant learners • One group with only Norwegian speaking participants • The script must be adapted to the target group • Complexity in language • Complexity in tasks • Total work load • Possibility of adapting the script during the simulation • The role of the tutor is important

17. It works!!! • Improved basic skills, especially ICT • Having fun • Engaging • Learning without noticing • Overcoming fear of writing and using ICT • Feeling more confident in communicating with others • Increased self esteem

18. Not the only solution A short term InterAct activity is not to significantly improve low basic skills, but • You get started • It’s different from a traditional learning situation • Gives an instant feeling of accomplishment Should be followed up by other learning activities