AONTAS
ADULT LEARNERS’ FESTIVAL 2010 INFORMATION DAY REPORT ©AONTAS – The National Adult Learning Organisation www.adultlearnersfestival.com | www.aontas.com The Adult Learners’ Festival 2010 is kindly sponsored by
Adult Learners’ Festival 2010 Information Day Report 1. THE ADULT LEARNERS’ FESTIVAL The Adult Learners’ Festival is a nationwide celebration of adult learning coordinated by AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation. It is about:
Celebrating adult learning and the achievements of adult learners
Showcasing the work of adult education providers
Promoting the work of AONTAS and the adult education sector
Ensuring that adult education is placed firmly on the political agenda
The 2010 Festival takes places from 22 – 26 February and is themed “Better Together”. In the last three years, the festival has become a firm fixture on the adult learning calendar with events taking place nationwide, including anything from information sessions, taster workshops, sample lectures to small gatherings of people who love to learn. Events are organised by all kinds of organisations throughout the country e.g. VEC, Libraries, Universities, Museums, Galleries, Workplaces, NGOs and much more!
2. OVERVIEW OF THE ADULT LEARNERS’ FESTIVAL INFORMATION DAY The Adult Learners’ Festival Information Day was held on Wednesday 20th January 2010 in The Gresham Hotel in Dublin. The aim of the meeting is to encourage organisations to become involved in the Festival by organising an event or activity. The Information Day promised:
the chance to learn more about the Adult Learners’ Festival, networking opportunities event and activity ideas how to promote adult learning using new and traditional media.
The environment in which organisations are working is dramatically different to previous Adult Learners’ Festivals with organisations trying to meet increased demand with fewer resources. The Information Day focussed on the importance of collaboration when working at local level and organising festival events. It also created an opportunity to develop the capacity of event organisers to publicise their work through a workshop on promoting adult learning using new and traditional. The meeting used discussion groups to facilitate networking and the exchange of ideas. 57 participants were seated in seven colour coded round tables of 8 – 10 with an AONTAS staff member or a former event organiser present. 59% of participants had never been involved in previous Festivals. Of the 41% of participants who took part in previous festivals, they were 2
Adult Learners’ Festival 2010 Information Day Report involved in a number of different ways including former event organisers, STAR Award nominees, and Local Links.
3. CONTENT OF THE DAY The morning commenced with an overview Adult Learners’ Festival and the key messages for the 2010 Festival from AONTAS Director, Berni Brady. Niamh Farren, Communications Officer AONTAS, provided an input on the Festival Themes and the resources available to event organisers. Niamh emphasized the importance of collaboration when holding an event, pointing out that it can result in better outcomes for learners. Niamh also highlighted the importance of documenting and evaluating your work during the Festival. Please see Appendix 3 for Niamh’s presentation. Following her presentation, Niamh invited participants to outline their experience of organising an event in previous years and share ideas about what they can do for the 2010 Festival within their groups. The short discussion focused on the following three questions: 1. Have you organised an event last year or in previous years? What kind of event do you think you could organise this year? Awards / Certificate ceremony Bringing the Library out to the community Coffee Morning Congress: All centres urban and rural to put up festival banners and advertise FETAC courses Event for internal staff and learners
GIY Ireland setting up a stall at the Farmers Market to highlight education Gorta: Adult education – highlighting needs of people in the third world. Specialists to give workshops on poverty, aids etc Information session on setting up your own business Learner Development Day
Exhibition of Learners Work
Learners evening with learners’ stories
Fun days in the library
Learning story through art
Local history events Online computers Open days around the county Seminar on cultural development Stand at a local shopping centre Theatre Night Training for public on social media Visit to TCD / Dail Workshop on allotments, beekeeping, sustainable living
2. If you organised an event for previous Adult Learners’ Festivals, what worked well?
Working with other groups in the area 3
Adult Learners’ Festival 2010 Information Day Report 3. If you organised an event for previous Adult Learners’ Festivals, what would you do differently?
Run fewer evening events Run events for morning / afternoon and not the whole day
Following the short discussion, Niamh Farren delivered a workshop on promoting the Adult Learners’ Festival using new and traditional media. The workshop provided tips on writing press releases, preparing for media interviews and using social networking and the internet to promote your event and the work of your organisation. The workshop was interactive, allowing participants to draw on their existing experience of using the media and encouraging them to share their approaches as well as asking questions. Niamh gave a short PowerPoint presentation which explained AONTAS PR strategy for the Festival as well as useful pointers in new and traditional media. The workshop was complimented by the resources available in the Explore Festival Toolkit. Following her input, Niamh invited participants to share ideas on promoting events and the work of adult learning organisations within their groups. The discussion focused on the following three questions: i. How can you promote your event locally? Activelink Asking people to blog Bluetooth Bring a friend CIC Citizens Information Communication between organisations
Id and contact other organisations
Phone around local groups
It stays at the same time each year, can be worked into workplan
Post office
Let the people invited have more control
Send a speaker out to the groups to promote ourselves
Library newsletter
Community Halls
Local centres of education e.g. VTIS, VEC
Community printers
Local chambers of commerce
Photo call / celebrity Posters
Shops TV shows e.g. The Afternoon Show, Ireland AM Use local farmers market 4
Adult Learners’ Festival 2010 Information Day Report Competitions e.g. FLICKR photo competition
Local church
Credit union
Local Newspaper
E-mailing all contacts
Local politicians
Event section on website
Local radio
Flier / Leaflet drop
Local social welfare office
Get more knowledge about local groups
Mailing list / Webtext
Get organised early Have press releases ready for local media
Local Hospital
Use or rural / urban centres to promote and reach people Use regional media – get a good contact with links in this area Use website, mailing list, twitter
Newsletter
Using local shopping centre to reach people
Online newsletter
Webtexting
Parish newsletter
Work with partners in local area
ii. What can AONTAS do to help you with promotion? Event in a Bag is a good idea
Local networking
Can send extra resources if needed
Organising seminars
Festival promotion is very important
Free publicity great help
Advertising
Building contacts when attending AONTAS Events
Additional contacts / mailing lists
AONTAS update
Website
Promoting on AONTAS website
News section
Earlier promotion Widen out brief
Can look at press releases if needed
One to one contact...phone back up / support E-mail Providing information on other organisations Networking opportunities
iii. Do you have any other questions or suggestions about the Festival? Look at the dates for the Adult Learners’ Festival 2011. April or May may be good time as it coincides with exhibitions of learners work, achievement ceremonies and may be a good time for recruitment for September. The morning concluded with a quick feedback session from each of the seven discussion groups followed by thanks and words of encouragement from AONTAS Director, Berni Brady.
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Adult Learners’ Festival 2010 Information Day Report 4. AFTER TODAY, WHAT IS THE ONE ACTION OR IDEA THAT YOU WILL PUT INTO PRACTICE DURING THE ADULT LEARNERS’ FESTIVAL 2010. Each participant was asked to fill out on evaluation form at the end of the event. 39 out of 57 participants responded. One of the questions participants were asked was “After today, what is the one action or idea that you will put into practice during the Adult Learners’ Festival 2010?
‘Bring a Friend’ l Adult education seminar on international development studies l Be more media focused & hoping to make a documentary on Blayney Blades l Become a member of AONTAS Better promotion l Create closer links to Northern Ireland / Adult Education l Green Learning Day l Invite guest speakers to event l Have a staff information meeting l Learner Development Day l Learning Tree l Linking / join forces with the library l More promotion Organise an event for local woman l Organise an event in the library l Organise workplace event, get Chambers to endorse the Festival l Promote our event through the local media l Promote the Festival within our 25 centres l Promotion via Qualifax l Recording event and sharing learning materials l Social Media Training l Try to get more local groups involved l Use Facebook / Twitter to promote our service Use media l Will discuss with team if possible to hold event, if not 2011 l
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Adult Learners’ Festival 2010 Information Day Report 5. Participant List NAME 1. Aine Byrne 2. Alan Dalton 3. Ann Devlin 4. Anne Byrne 5. Anne Maree O'Brien 6. Aobhán Haverty, 7. Bernadette Beatley 8. Bernadette Cogan
9. Bernadine L 10. Berni Brady 11. Caroline Egan 12. Catherine Gallagher 13. Catherine McKenzie
14. Ciara Murphy 15. Claire McSimon 16. Colm Davis 17. Eilís Coyne – 18. Eimear Chaomhanach 19. Elaine Gahan 20. Eleonora Peruffo 21. Elizabeth Flanagan 22. Elizabeth Zuba 23. Elly Fairbairn 24. Erin Thomas
25. Fiona Elward 26. Frances O’Gorman
ORGANISATION
COUNTY
IIPMM National Learning Network FETAC KARE Westmeath VEC
Dublin Dublin
abyrne@iipmm.ie Nln.connections@gmail.com
Dublin Kildare Westmeath
anndevlin@ireland.com anne.byrne@kareld.com annemareeobrien@iol.ie
Co. Clare VEC Rowlagh Women’s Group Dublin City Public Libraries – Central Library personal interest AONTAS Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups South Dublin County Council St John of God Menni Services (Supported Employment) AONTAS Focus Ireland National Learning Network Local Link for Co Meath Temple Bar Cultural Trust County Dublin VEC AONTAS National Learning Network IIPMM WEB WOMEN'S GROUP Gorta – The Freedom From Hunger Council Congress County Clare Library
Clare Dublin
ahaverty@clarevec.ie oliveadmin@oceanfree.net Bernadette.cogan@dublincity.ie
Dublin Dublin
No E-mail Provided bbrady@aontas.com caroline@carmichaelcentre.ie
Dublin
cgallagher@sdublincoco.ie No E-mail Provided
Dublin
cmurphy@aontas.com No E-mail Provided Nln.connections@gmail.com
Meath
maegs@meathvec.ie
Dublin
echaomhanach@templebar.ie
Dublin Dublin Dublin
elaine.gahan@edu.codubvec.ie eperuffo@aontas.com Nln.connections@gmail.com
Dublin Dublin
ezuba@iipmm.ie ellyfairbairn@hotmail.com erin@gorta.org
fiona.elward@ictu.ie
Clare
Frances.ogorman@clarelibrary.ie 7
Adult Learners’ Festival 2010 Information Day Report NAME 27. Grace Fox 28. Irene Fay
29. 30. 31. 32.
Jacinta Cuthbert Joanne Power Kathryn Laing Kirsi Hanifin
33. Laura Burke 34. Lill Coyne 35. Lorraine Cunningham 36. Louise Morgan 37. Mags Murphy
38. Marcella C... 39. Marian Courtney 40. Marian Hickey 41. Marie Daly 42. Mark Wilkins 43. Mary Devlin 44. Mary Farrell
45. Mary Farrell 46. Mary Hilda Cavanagh 47. Mary Quinlan 48. Maura Ryan 49. Michael Potter 50. Niamh Farren 51. Nora Gubbins 52. Pauline Comaskey 53. Peadar Lynch
ORGANISATION Ballyhoura Folklore Project Canal Local Employment Service Network AONTAs Waterford City Vec AONTAS Labour Women/labour Party KARE GIT
The Digital Hub Director of Councillor Services and Training-Labour Party Interior Design Chambers Ireland CPLN-local employment service Rowlagh Women’s Group Union Reps ICTU National Learning Network Co Longford Adult Educational Guidance Service Co Longford Adult Guidance
COUNTY
E-MAIL ballyhourafolklore@eircom.net No E-mail Provided
Dublin Waterford Dublin
jcuthbert@aontas.com adultliteracy@eircom.net klaing@aontas.com Kirsi.hanifin@labour.ie
Kildare
anne.byrne@kareld.com lill.space4healing@gmail.com lorrainedcf@hotmail.com
Dublin Dublin 1
lmorgan@thedigitalhub.com Mags.Murphy@labour.ie
Dublin 23
No E-mail Provided Marian.courtney@chambers.ie mhickey@cplnareales.ie
Dublin
oliveadmin@oceanfree.net
Belfast Dublin
No E-mail Provided Nln.connections@gmail.com
Co. Longford
claegs@eircom.net
Longford
ctcld@iol.ie maryhildacavanagh@eircom.net
Taemur Consulting WEB WOMEN'S GROUP National Learning Network AONTAS North Tipperary VEC Longford Women's link personal interest
mquinlan@eircom.net ellyfairbairn@hotmail.com Dublin
Nln.connections@gmail.com
Dublin Tipperary Longford
nfarren@aontas.com info@ntags.ie pauline@longfordwomenslink.org No E-mail Provided 8
Adult Learners’ Festival 2010 Information Day Report NAME 54. Phil Keane
55. PJ Gallagher 56. Regina Dunne 57. Sandra Hosty 58. Sandra Turner
59. Sean O'Reilly 60. Selina Reddy 61. Sofia ForeroGomez 62. Suzanne Walsh 63. Veronica Bayly
ORGANISATION Canal Local Employment Service Network Individual Member National College of Ireland De Paul Ireland Offaly County Council – Library Service NQAI CPLN-local employment service Epic ProgrammeBusiness in the Community Ireland Tallaght Centre for the Unemployed
COUNTY
E-MAIL pkeane@canallesn.ie
Dublin
gallagher.patrickjohn@gmail.com rdunne@ncirl.ie No E-mail Provided sturner@offalycoco.ie
Dublin 22
sreddy@cplnareales.ie Sforero-gomez@bitc.ie
Dublin24
tcureception@gmail.com
Dublin
baywyn@gmail.com
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Adult Learners’ Festival 2010 Information Day Report Appendix 1: Information Day Agenda Date: Wednesday, 20 January 2010 Time: 09:30 – 12.30 Venue: The Gresham Hotel, O’ Connell Street, Dublin 1 A light lunch of soup and sandwiches will be served at 12.30.
AGENDA 09:30 – 10:00
Registration with tea, coffee and biscuits
10:00 – 10:20
Welcome and overview of the Adult Learners’ Festival 2010 Policy Aspects and Festival Messages Berni Brady, Director, AONTAS
10:20 – 10:35
Festival Themes Niamh Farren, Communications Officer, AONTAS
Celebrate Learning : The STAR Awards Ceremony Green Learning Day Learning Communities (plus some info about the TV series) Learning @ Work Lobby for Learning
AONTAS Support and Resources/ Event in a Bag
10:35 – 10:50
Organising an Event – Practical Advice Experience of past event organisers, and get ideas for your events
10:50 – 11:00
Tea Break
11:00 – 12:00
Workshop: Promoting the Adult Learners’ Festival - Using Traditional and New Media Niamh Farren, Communications Officer, AONTAS
Tips on writing press releases, preparing for media interviews. Using social networking and the internet to promote your event.
12:00 – 12:20
Workshop feedback and Final Questions
12:20 – 12.30
Thanks & Close Berni Brady, Director, AONTAS
12.30 – 1.30
Lunch 10
Adult Learners’ Festival 2010 Information Day Report Appendix 2: Supports and Resources This year we've made it as easy as possible for you to participate. The A- Z of activities on our website will help you decide on something simple and easy that you can organise within your group or community. Once you have decided on an activity, you can enter details about your event directly on our website. AONTAS will send you a copy of our 'Event in a Bag' which contains promotional and display materials. Details of your event will be included on the website in the lead up to the Festival, along with your contact details. AONTAS can also help you promote your event in your local media, or put you in contact with organisations or people that are involved in your area. Event in a Bag If you are planning an event for the Adult Learners' Festival (22 -26 February 2010) we have everything you might need in an Event in a Bag. The Event in a Bag is an exciting resource for the Adult Learners' Festival 2010. This complete kit of materials is designed to support you in holding local events and activities during the week of the festival. An Event in a Bag contains:
10 A3 Posters 10 A5 Fliers 4 Banners 6 Balloons 30 Bookmarks 30 Pens 1 AONTAS Information Booklet 1 Explore Magazine with Festival Toolkit
A limited number of posters and fliers are available as Gaeilge: A3 Poster (Irish Language) A5 Flier (Irish Language) Get your Event in a Bag by registering your event on the Calendar of Events by clicking here or contact Eleonora Peruffo at eperuffo@aontas.com / 01 4068220. Festival Themed Days Monday, 22 February 2010: Tuesday, 22 February 2010: Wednesday, 22 February 2010: Thursday, 22 February 2010: Friday, 22 February 2010:
Celebrate Learning Green Learning Learning Communities Learn at Work Lobby for Learning 11
Appendix 3
AONTAS Adult Learners’ Festival 2010
‘Better Together” Festival Themes
Themes • European Year of Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion • Collaboration – results in better outcomes for learners • Promoting what we already do • Each day of the Festival will promote a different aspect to learning
Thematic Days – Monday 22nd • Monday 22nd February – ‘Celebrate Learning’ • STAR Awards Ceremony – 3pm at No. 6 Kildare St • 110 projects nominated – shortlist of 40 available from Feb 1st • Winners announced on the day
Tuesday 23rd – Green Learning • Promote learning initiatives focusing on environmental education, sustainable living, gardening, recycling • Participating organisations include GIY Ireland (Grow it Yourself), ENFO and the Cultivate Centre
Wednesday 24th Learning Communities • Promoting all aspects of non-formal learning • Promoting the role of community education in combating poverty and social exclusion • Launching a series of TV programmes ‘Beyond the Classroom’ – on DCTV • Involvement from local libraries, community groups, art galleries, museums
Thursday 25th – Learn @ Work • Promoting the importance of workplace learning • Particular focus on business sector, through IBEC and Small Firms Association • Open to any organisation who wants to run an event which promotes access to learning for their staff – eg Arts Council
Friday 26th – Lobby for Learning • AONTAS to host an adult education ‘clinic’ with the education spokespeople from government and opposition parties • Focus on learners and providers – opportunity to air their concerns and feed into future Manifestos, through a ‘listening post’ • Brief response from elected representatives at the end
Support and Resources • Event in a Bag • Toolkits with activity sheets for each day • Press Releases circulated in advance of the Festival to event organisers/ AONTAS membership • www.adultlearnersfestival.com will include the most up to date information on events and publicity • Assistance in promoting your own event locally • Statistics / Information
Appendix 4
WORKSHOP Promoting Adult Learning Using new & traditional media Niamh Farren Communications Officer
AONTAS PR Strategy for ALF • Contacting national tv and radio programmes/ papers in advance of the Festival • Regular press releases throughout the Festival • Support members to engage with local media through the provision of press releases • Advertising – through recording of an ad for local and national radio, print advertising • Use of social media – Facebook and Twitter
This workshop • How can we work together to promote adult learning during the Adult Learners’ Festival? • Issue better Press Releases • Understand what journalists are looking for • Explore online media to promote adult learning
The media environment • • • • • • • •
Television Radio Newspapers Magazines Parish Newsletter Websites Blogs/Podcasts Social Networking Sites
• All feed off each other
What does a journalist want? • Something newsworthy – preferably that ties into an existing story • Information provided to a tight deadline • A strong human interest story • Something unusual/ quirky • Something controversial • An authoritative voice • For radio, spokesperson is important, for television, visuals, and for print, good photograph
What you need to deal with the media • A Press Release • Photographs of your event (check with the newspaper about the format) • Spokesperson/ spokespersons –from your organisation, learners that you know • Website or other background materials • Contact details • A strong, simple message! • A good, regularly updated electronic mailing list of relevant media personnel. • Information about their deadlines.
What makes a good press release? • A catchy headline. • Main information in the first paragraph of the press release – i.e. who, why, what, where, how. • Statistics • No jargon – simple straightforward language • Suggest photo opportunities? • VIPs, Celebrity Involvement? • Quotes • A good soundbite/ use metaphors • Timing • Don’t forget to include details about your event – time, date, venue and your own contact details.
Questions to help you write a good press release • What is the problem, or issue that you are trying to address? • Who thinks that this is an important issue? • Why should people care about this issue?
The Internet •Personal •Viral •Interactive ‘Facebook is for people you know, Twitter is for people you want to know.’
What you need to participate • Separate email account is good – eg gmail/ hotmail (allows more people to access) • Register your account with the social networking site (eg Facebook/ Twitter) • Time – you need to build up a network or following and this doesn’t happen by osmosis • Use it regularly – this medium thrives on immediacy
• Allows users to create a group/ network • Key target audience – event organisers and AONTAS members • Purpose – to allow event organisers to exchange information. AONTAS will post useful resources, updates and event details • Users will need a facebook account to access the site
Event Organisers Page on Facebook
• Allows users to build up a following – AONTAS will post short updates and information about events all through the week • Target audience – general public, politicians, anyone interested in adult learning. • Used by journalists, researchers, politicians, bloggers • Followers can ‘re tweet’ messages, thus maximising publicity on a message.
AONTAS on Twitter
Other online supports • Flickr – for photos and images • Google alerts – set up an account and get news on a particular issue sent directly to your inbox • Youtube (short videos) • Vimeo – for longer films/ programmes
Using social networking as a promotional tool • It’s not about quantity of people, but about quality. Who is following you, not how many. • It’s at its best when used to start conversations, rather than just posting press releases. Ask questions, seek feedback. • Can also help you gather information, by cultivating new contacts • Can help you make contact with people that you wouldn’t normally deal with
www.adultlearnersfestival.com
Questions • How can you promote your event locally? • What can AONTAS do to help you with promotion? • Do you have any other questions about the Festival?
In summary.... • • • •
Be creative in your promotional work Try a mix of media, rather than relying on one Contact us if you need assistance Submit your event as soon as details are finalised • Let us know what you are doing, so that we can promote your activities • Tell us how well you get on!