1. Presenter Name Event Name
Advocating for micro
innovation : the VISIR
recommendations
Fabio Nascimbeni, MENON – Brussels March 2014

2. www.visir-network.eu
The VISIR vision
We believe that successful mainstreaming of ICT-
enhanced and of Open Education strongly depends
on grassroots practices uptake.

3. www.visir-network.eu
Who is behind VISIR
• the MENON Network
• the European Association for Adult Learning (EADL)
• the European Distance and E-learning Network (EDEN)
• the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD)
• the European Learning Industry Group (ELIG)
• the European Interest Group on Creativity and Innovation (EICI)
• The European Foundation for Quality in e-Learning (EFQUEL)
• K.U. Leuven

4. www.visir-network.eu
The road to the VISIR recommendations
1. Research on domains of change and trends
2. Connections with similar works (IPTS…)
3. Vision building Workshop
4. Three online consultations
5. Six thematic workshops
6. 120 micro innovation practices
7. Top 23 cases selected and analysed
8. Workshop with VISIR innovators

5. www.visir-network.eu
Yesterday workshop
• WHO: innovators, experts, practitioners, decision
makers
• WHAT: share, discuss, and co-produce
recommendations (starting from the VISIR results)
• NEXT: VISIR will make sure the results are read by
the relevant eyes

6. www.visir-network.eu
Questions from yesterday
First learning café: barriers to scalability and mainstreaming
a) Why blaming is more popular than praising in education?
b) What are we doing wrong in supporting innovative teachers?
c) Is lack of evidence of results the reason for non investing/supporting/exploring innovation in
education?
Second learning café: the issue of funding
a) Funding “beyond the pilot”: mission possible?
b) Do you know the real cost of your innovation?
c) How do you like low-cost collaborative innovation?
Third learning café: learners and community engagement
a) Can learners become driving forces for scaling up innovation?
b) Where do you look for allies for scalability?
c) What makes a learning innovation “viral”?

7. www.visir-network.eu
10 quotations from yesterday
“ We have different cultures of innovation.”
“Give recognition and incentives for innovation.”
“We need low-bureaucracy Micro-Reporting for Micro-Funding.”
“Give space and time for innovation e.g. in terms of working hours, flexibility in the curriculum …”
“We should respect and use failures.”
“Apply feasible and manageable evaluation approaches to assess the results of the project.”
“Foster Open Data Policies i.e. make all data available.”
“Lack of evidence of results goes together with low capacity to communicate results.”
“We need to be brave and face the substitutional impact of innovation.”
“Scalability is not compulsory: too much money can kill creativity!”

8. www.visir-network.eu
www.visir-network.eu