HOLD YOUR ACES 

Short description

“Hold your Aces” is trainers Competence Cards for Self- Assessment. The competence cards have been developed to support and promote the self-assessment process of trainers and facilitators to accompany their professional development. They divide the whole ETS Competence Model for Trainers Working at International Level and its list of competences and criteria, into separate ‘pieces’, which makes it easier to focus on and work with.

Educational value/ Learning Objectives

The competence cards can be used individually, in newly formed trainers teams, in existing teams, or trainers’ pools. The tool supports trainers in analyzing and mapping out their competences, can be used as a tool for feedback between colleagues, or as a support for other tools that have been developed for self-assessment.The tool is meant for trainers, working within the context of Erasmus+ and the youth field. However, it can also be useful for trainers working in other educational training areas. Trainers who are interested in working with the competences defined in the Competence Model for Trainers Working at International Level as part of the European Training Strategy, can use the competence cards and the exercises as a tool for reflection or as a self-assessment tool, to develop their profession as trainers.

Recommendations for use

Individual approachDepending on the personality of the trainer, the competence cards can be used to:Explore to which extent a trainer feels confident about the development of his/her/hir competence in the training practice.Explore which trainer’s competences are challenging or not visible to oneself or to others.Explore or analyse how a given competence has been developed throughout the trainer’s development, experience and practice, and better understand how the trainer deals with a competence or a criterion.Find evidence for the competences developed.Develop a personal or individual strategy for further professional development.Team approachThe competence cards can be used both in new teams (for teams that deliver a single training) or for experienced teams (trainers that work together for a longer time, for a series of trainings, working together in a pool of trainers, etc.). In this case, the competence cards can be used to:Explore which of the trainers’ competences (in teams or pools) are present, missing or less visible.Ask and give feedback to each other during or after working together.Further develop the competences of / in the team or pool.Expand the team or pool with new team members, based on trainers’ competences that would complement those already present in the team.

Tips and Tricks for Facilitators

How to adapt game for different groups, topics, occasions/needsThe competence cards can not only be used as standalone tools or together with the exercises, but also it many other ways or with tools that have been developed by others. The invitation is to use them freely, with an approach that fits individual trainers best, using not only the cognitive level, but also other senses, ‘gut feeling’, creativity, movement and any other form or method that fits the one(s)using them.They have rather been developed for trainers to [better] understand themselves and their identity, which competences come more naturally and which ones require more effort. The responsibility is with the trainers themselves, to develop their own strategy on which competences and criteria they would like to further develop.Feedback questionsHow was the activity?
What was the most challenging?
What did you enjoy the most?

Further discussion topics

Diversity and Inclusion.