 | Date: 29/9/2011 Issue: #4 |
Digital Empowerment - DigEm is an innovative digital empowering project that uses a creative approach to teach basic ICT skills and provides an effective entry route for learners, who are disengaged with the learning process, or who are unconfident with new technologies. The aim of the project is the development and implementation of a new methodology of getting to know new technologies with the use of specialized and creative techniques and educational tools that are used also by the media, such as the creation of stories focusing on personal experiences, theatre, photography, production of video clips, story telling, etc. This methodology can be used with different target groups and on a variety of training subjects depending on how the trainer uses these tools. The project targets those with no/few formal qualifications, socially excluded groups, older learners, women over 45, minority ethnic groups in order to motivate them to increase their employability. The project is being coordinated by DIMITRA ITD with the participation of partner organization from eight European Countries; England, Spain, Poland, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Cyprus and Greece. | |
| DIGEM Progress | Digem is almost completed. We have succeeded in forming a methodological framework that has been used by our network of trainers during pilot trainings. The methodology approach is the general framework for the trainers on how to use the contents and tools of Digem in order to deliver the trainings. It is expected that the methodological approach will be finalized upon the completion of the pilot trainings and during the partners' next meeting in Cyprus. Moreover the consortium has started the development of the trainers' pack. All partners have given suggestions to the coordinating partner of what information the trainer's pack should contain. This also is expected to be finalized after our next meeting in CYPRUS The pilot trainings have been implemented by almost all the partners. The It is expected that all partners will complete the implementation of the end users pilots beofre our next meeting in October. The consortium's next meeting is scheduled to take place in Nicosia, CYPRUS on the 5th of October 2011. |
| Building a Dynamic Network of Trainers | Train of Trainers Workshop - LONDON 21st and 22nd February 2011 In the context of activities of the project Digital Empowerment there was a 2-days training for trainers held on 21 – 22 February 2011. The training took place in London (Goldsmith University of London) and was organized by DIMITRA Institute of Training and Development S.A., with the gentle hosting assistance by DIGITALES. Number of participants was 15 (13 trainees and 2 trainers). The aims of this two day workshop was to: • Introduce the Digital Storytelling methodology • Develop participants’ storytelling and scripting skills • Develop participants’ technical and creative skills • Develop participants’ facilitation skills. As we progress with the implementation DIGEM is becoming clear to all eight partners that DIGEM can be a valuable tool for engaging and re-engaging learners in the learning process. So far we have achieved the training of more than 48 trainers from 8 different countries that will be our driving force for using the DIGEM methodology in the training of various subjects (ICT and non ICT) making training exciting and interesting for learners. Train of Trainers Workshop - LARISSA 19th and 20th APRIL 2011 Another 2-days training for trainers was held on the 19 – 20 April 2011. The training took place in Larissa (DIMITRA ITD facilities, Palaiologou 19) and was organized by DIMITRA Institute of Training and Development S.A. Number of participants was 13 (11 trainees and 2 trainers). Train of Trainers Workshop - VILNIUS 29th and 30th April 2011 DigEm train the trainer workshop was implemented once again successfully in the framework of European program DigEm: Digital Empowerment. The train the trainer workshop took place in the Training Centre of the Ministry of Finance in Vilnius-Lithuania, on 29 and 30 of April 2011 and organized by the Lithuanian partner Social and Economic Center (SEDC). In this workshop participated as trainers two persons from SEDC (Rugile Butkeviciute και Kamile Butkeviciute), one person from DIGITALES (Outti Vellacott) and one person from DIMITRA ITD (Nikos Mandrekas). The twelve (12) trainees came mainly from Lithuania and were selected because of their access to target groups of the program, namely those with no/few formal qualifications, socially excluded groups, older learners, women over 45, minority ethnic groups in order to motivate them to increase their employability. The objectives of the DigEm train the trainer workshop was to familiarize trainees with the idea of utilizing digital stories for the development of digital and social skills of end users from vulnerable social groups, to develop narrative and writing scenario skills, to be trained on software that is used in DigEm workshops and to experience practically the procedures which will be asked to manage as trainers of end users in the future. The trainees, through the successful guidance of the four trainers, acquainted with the methodology, techniques, tools and educational material included in the methodological guide that has already been developed from the project implementation until now. The used approach is experiential. That means that trainees experienced the DigEm method rather than passively watching a presentation. Utilizing creative techniques used by the Mass Media, such as the creation of stories-scenarios focused on experiential experiences, theater, photography, music, video clip and narration production, each of the trainees created by a two-minute digital story, which will be posted on the official website of the project (www.digem.eu). The abovementioned methodology will be able to be used from different target groups and at the same time in a wide range of educational programs depending on the control handling of the tools by the trainer. DigEm is an innovative digital empowering project that uses a creative approach to teaching ICT skills and provides an effective entry route for learners disengaged with the learning process, or not confident with new technologies. DigEm develops communication skills by using creative tools/media techniques, focused on people's own lives, through story-telling, photography, music, video and narrative. Click here to watch the videos One last Train the Trainers workshop is scheduled by our partner in CYPRUS on the 7th and 8th of October. As a Trainer, or union of trainers or vocational educational provider that would be interested in getting to know this methodology, you could participate in the train the trainer seminar that will be organized in your country and in your mother tongue and then organize a seminar that will use the DIGEM methodology on your training subject and on your selected target group. Any trainer that wished to participate may contact the partners in the relevant countries. Click here to view contact details of the partners. |
| End Users Pilots with DIGEM Methodology | Second DigEm workshop in Ostrava (Czech Republic) . On 20th, 21st and 22nd of June 2011, implemented the second workshop of digital empowerment in Ostrava of Czech Republic, by the Czech partner ATHENA (Association for Education and Development of Women), in the framework of DigEm project which coordinated by DIMITRA ITD and participate organizations from England, Spain, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland, Cyprus and Greece. In this workshop participated seven (7) unemployed women (some of them suffer from long-term unemployment so they also encounter social exclusion) who following the DigEm method created digital stories based on issues of family life on leisure time activities. It is worth mention that the number of interested women to participate in this specific workshop was bigger than the final number of the participants. The choice of the final participants done based on the compatibility between the workshop schedule and the available time of the trainees. Because the trainees participated together in other educational activities of the ATHENA (thus they already knew each other and quickly created the necessary atmosphere of trust), and because they had already basic skills of computer use, this specific workshop had the opportunity to give greater emphasis on narrative skills development. The participants, under the successful guidance of the ATHENA’s trainers, came totally prepared keeping rich personal photographic material, so there wasn’t needed to seek additional material from the internet (although this was possible). In the final stage of the educational process that includes the presentation of personal digital stories (available on the official DigEm site, www.digem.eu), trainees showed completely satisfied with their work and the DigEm methodology and were enthusiastic in relation with their enhanced self-confidence. DigEm Storytelling workshop in Santander-Spain, for people experiencing social exclusion In Santander of Spain took place, from 19 until 27 of May 2011, a workshop for digital stories with the already developed methodology of DigEm project (in total 25 hours duration). To implement this action, the Spanish DigEm partner DOCUMENTA cooperated with the Municipal Authority of the City of Santander and the network EAPN-Cantabria (European Networking against Poverty and Social Exclusion). This workshop was attended by nine (9) trainees and the thematic was situations of social exclusion and possibilities to overcome them. For the successful implementation of this workshop DOCUMENTA took into account one of the main objectives of the DigEm project, namely the dissemination of the program through NGOs for the widest possible spreading among vulnerable social groups and its connection with other activities aimed at social integration in regional level. This goal was achieved through the cooperation between DOCUMENTA and the network EAPN-Cantabria (European Network against Poverty and Social Exclusion). Another element of successful implementation of the workshop was the first day that was dedicated to theoretical analysis of social exclusion and inclusion. This theoretical introduction lasted five and a half hours (5 ½) and was attended by 25 potential participants for the DigEm workshop. The eight (8) trainees came from these 25 people, while another person was involved by DOCUMENTA. The trainees showed great satisfaction and enthusiasm for DigEm method (which strengthened their social and digital skills) and created high quality videos within a very short time. On the last day of the workshop were presented the videos which prepared by the trainees, both to the nine trainees and to people who had attended the first day of the theoretical part of the workshop. These videos are available on the official website of the DigEm project (www.digem.eu) and also have English subtitles. Trying to get as much dissemination as possible, DOCUMENTA invited Samuel Ruiz, the City Councilor of Employment, Youth and New Technologies to participate in the closing activity and to see some of the videos made by the people attending the training; who, together with Javier Farto as President of DOCUMENTA, gave them the certificates of attendance. DigEm training for unemployed women in retirement age in Warsaw-Poland With the cooperation of the University of Third Age (U3A) in Warsaw, was implemented by the polish partner of DigEm project (Multimedia Education Center at Warsaw University – SGGW) a workshop on DigEm methodology, from 25 November until 12 December 2010 (in total 24 hours duration). This training course is part of the cycle of educational workshops aimed at target groups of DigEm project, those who have few or no formal qualifications, members of socially excluded groups, older learners, women over 45, members of minority ethnic groups, in order to motivate them to increase their employability and social participation. In this training course participated as trainees seven (7) unemployed women at retirement age and hence, disengaged with the learning process and not confident with new technologies. The main theme of the developed digital stories was based on the life experiences of the participants. Through the successful guidance of trainers Robert Budzynski, Daria Panasiuk and Anna Pacholec, the trainees acquainted with the methodology, techniques, tools and educational material included in the methodological guide that has already been developed from the project implementation until now. The used approach is experiential. That means that trainees experienced the DigEm method rather than passively watching a presentation. Utilizing creative techniques used by the Mass Media, such as the creation of stories-scenarios focused on lived experiences, theater, photography, music, video clip and narration production, each of the trainees created by a two-minute digital story, which will be posted on the official website of the project (www.digem.eu). It is worth mentioned that participants were enthusiastic with the training method and positively surprised by their active participation and acquaintance acquired with new technologies. |
| Newspapers Articles for Dissemination | TRAIN THE TRAINER WORKSHOP ON THE DigEm METHODOLOGY TOOK PLACE IN LONDON DigEm train the trainer workshop took place successfully on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 of February 2011, hosted by DIGITALES at modern facilities of Goldsmith University in London, with the presence of all partners from Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania and England. This was the 4th train-the-trainer workshop within the framework of the innovative European program “Digem –Digital Empowerment” . More specifically, during the training seminar in London there was a trainers’ training on the use of the DigEm methodology for the creation of digital stories. Trainees acquainted with the methodology, techniques, tools and educational material included in the methodological guide that has already been developed from the project implementation until now. The used approach is experiential. That means that trainees, through the successful guidance of trainers, experienced the DigEm method rather than passively watching a presentation. Utilizing creative techniques used by the Mass Media, such as the creation of stories-scenarios focused on experiential experiences, theater, photography, music, video clip and narration production, each of the trainees created by a two-minute digital story, which are posted on the official website of the project (www.digem.eu). The abovementioned methodology will be able to be used from different target groups and at the same time in a wide range of educational programs depending on the control handling of the tools by the trainer. TRAIN THE TRAINER WORKSHOP ON THE DigEm METHODOLOGY TOOK PLACE IN LARISSA DigEm train the trainer workshop took place successfully on Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 of April 2011, hosted by DIMITRA ITD in Larissa, within the framework of the innovative European program “Digem –Digital Empowerment” . More specifically, during the training seminar in Larissa there was a trainers’ training on the use of the DigEm methodology for the creation of digital stories. The 11 trainees were selected based on their access to target groups of the program, namely those with no/few formal qualifications, socially excluded groups, older learners, women over 45, minority ethnic groups in order to motivate them to increase their employability. The trainees, through the successful guidance of trainers Evi Papatheodorou and Nikos Mandrekas, acquainted with the methodology, techniques, tools and educational material included in the methodological guide that has already been developed from the project implementation until now. The used approach is experiential. That means that trainees experienced the DigEm method rather than passively watching a presentation. Utilizing creative techniques used by the Mass Media, such as the creation of stories-scenarios focused on experiential experiences, theater, photography, music, video clip and narration production, each of the trainees created by a two-minute digital story, which will be posted on the official website of the project (www.digem.eu). The abovementioned methodology will be able to be used from different target groups and at the same time in a wide range of educational programs depending on the control handling of the tools by the trainer. |
| Join Us! Create your Own digital story! | As a trainee you could enrol on the Digem internet site and follow the progress of the project, enroll in a training workshop in your country, project your productions that will be the result during your training, come in contact and share views with people from other countries and civilizations and view your own productions. You could learn to use new technologies in a creative way. The scheduled dates of the workshops will be soon published on our web site www.digem.eu. |
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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This Web Site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. |