Community Learning Development Resource 101 – 12

A CASE STUDY

 

SUMMARY – effective learner recruitment at a community venue

• Short Beginners IT courses at a village social centre were a planned initiative by an LEA provider

• Leaflets and posters to promote the courses and with information about who to telephone to book a place, etc., were displayed locally, at the centre, in shops and in the local library, etc.,

Only three potential participants were recruited and the courses did not run

• Two months later, within the same location, for the same provision at the same venue – one local voluntary worker at the centre, had conversations with regular centre users and used a newsletter reporting on a jumble sale at the centre, to mention the computing classes and tell everyone to talk with her, if they were interested.

Within two or three weeks, she had signed up enough potential learners for two short Beginners IT course groups, each with ten participants

• Both courses completed successfully. The voluntary worker made sure that she visited the courses regularly and talked with everyone.  Feedback from participants, mainly older learners, about the experience was very positive and more short courses are planned and there is some interest in more advanced courses.

REFLECTION: What can we learn from this case study?

(This case study was reported in the Adult Learning Inspectorate Report – ‘Making an impact on individuals and communities’ )