4. Rethinking the role of the products and services provided by the WLP project

4.1 Starting points: The original ideas and the initial working concept

The original plans had envisaged a set of final products (also called as ‘Tools’) that were closely related to each other. In this respect the LPA tool was indicated as the main instrument to support partnership creation or further development of partnerships. The WLP Web was indicated as a common instrument for managing the partnership-based learning activities and for presenting examples of good practice. The WLP Manual was indicated as a key instrument for promoting the know-how on partnership development and for disseminating the experience of pilot activities. The WLP Course was indicated as an instrument for familiarising the actors in the field (e.g. vocational teachers, in-company trainers, HRD specialists etc.) with the tools and for supporting further piloting in other contexts.

The analyses that have been presented above have indicated how the role of the LPA tool and of the WLP Web had to be reviewed at relatively early stages of the project. In the subsequent phase the rethinking on the piloting agendas had direct implications for the WLP Manual (which were already discussed in the London workshop). Yet, the work of the last phase of the project could link this reorientation to the whole architecture of the WLP knowledge resources and to the revised concept of the WLP Course.

4.2 Analysis of the encountered contradictions and needs for reorientation

In the light of the above presented analyses the WLP project had to complete a process of reorientation and to make this reorientation transparent throughout the whole set of final products. In this context it is essential to note that the initial ideas ere linked to clear working hypotheses regarding the innovation concepts that were to be supported by the WLP project. Consequently, the main products were drafted as promotional tools that were closely linked to each other and ad a relatively closed architecture.

During the work of the project the leading idea had to be re-conceptualised in the light of the diversity of partnership concepts (and related prospects for networked learning) and in the light of different possibilities to promote actual piloting. In this respect it was more appropriate to define the final products of the WLP project as major elements of a joint European resource environment that provides support for national pilot activities (and for national resource areas). Therefore, the resource environment should have a relatively open architecture. In addition, the WLP resource areas should make links to each other and also to external knowledge resources.

4.3. Remarks on the revision of the working concept

In the light of the above presented revisions the underlying ideas related to the WLP products were re-conceptualised and the role of each product was redefined. In this respect the main characteristics of the final products of the WLP project can be indicated in the following way:

1. The “WLP Manual” was developed into a brief guide to the WLP project and to the knowledge resources produced by the project.
2. The “WLP Web” was transformed into “WLP Web resources” – a resource environment for sharing knowledge on the development of workplace learning partnerships (on the basis of country information, European reports, multimedia resources and specific content areas). The web resources are accessible as Word documents, as Wiki pages and via blog entries.
3. The “WLP Course” was developed as a relatively open learning environment that supports self-directed learning or provides a basis for organised training courses. The WLP Course is based on four learning areas (Partnership creation and use of basic analyses, Planning of partnership-based learning arrangements, Support for partnership-based learning activities, Making use of web services and platforms). The adjustment of the course concept is supported by framework document, a pedagogic commentary and a customisation tool.
4. The LPA tool was incorporated into the product area “WLP Tools”. This product area consists of the ‘Groundwork tools’ (Learning Potential Analysis, Learning Achievement Review and Learning Provision Review) and of ‘Workshop Tools’. The latter tools have been designed for workshops that link the preparatory analyses to further discussions on developing partnership-based cooperation. According to the original commitments the LPA tool has been developed as a web tool. Latterly the other Groundwork tools (LAR and LPR) have also been made available as web tools.