DigiWork - digital skills for adult learners

<< Background >>We implemented the DigiWork project to address the growing digital divide among adults aged 45+, 50 and 60, a population group often excluded from the opportunities offered by modern technologies. Our first activity, research and focus groups, highlighted that many adults struggle to acquire essential digital skills, negatively impacting their social inclusion and employment opportunities. The project, which was conceived to respond to these needs, now offers a tailor-made e-learning training program, integrated with a practical guide for educators and a series of training materials for self-training of adults, for EDA organizations and for companies interested in improving the digital skills of this target. Through video modules and face-to-face training sessions, DigiWork aimed to improve the digital skills of over 300 adults, bridging the gap between their current skills and the needs of the contemporary labor market. Working in close collaboration with companies and educational institutions, we ensured that the content was relevant and adapted to the real needs, including work, of the participants.<< Objectives >>With the DigiWork project, we achieved all our initial objectives: our first goal was to improve the digital skills of adults aged 45-60, a group often excluded from the benefits of digitalization. We wanted to bridge the digital divide that limits their employment opportunities and social participation. In addition, we committed to providing practical tools and high-quality learning resources, such as e-learning modules and the DigiWork Guide, to facilitate autonomous learning and help educators with tested tools to customize training according to the needs of participants. During the implementation, we realized that we achieved three new objectives: 1. Support adult learners and companies, with practical materials to self-learn and recognize their acquired skills; 2. Through local face-to-face and small-group activities, customize the materials especially for those with diverse skills and a more cautious approach to digitalization. Finally, 3. We promoted collaboration between educators and companies to create a sustainable network for the exchange of good practices, with the aim of generating a positive and lasting impact.<< Implementation >>In the DigiWork project, we implemented all the key activities designed to achieve our set objectives. We started with a research phase and focus groups to identify the obstacles to acquiring digital skills for adults over 45. Following this, we developed ten e-learning modules on various digital skills, accompanied by a DigiWork Guide for educators, to facilitate self-learning and provide educational support. Throughout the project, we organized local dissemination and testing mini-events, where participants could test the educational materials in person and provide immediate feedback. Additionally, we focused our communication efforts on Facebook and YouTube, the platforms most used by our target group, to maximize engagement and participation. We also created a network of educators on EPALE, which will continue to collaborate and share best practices, ensuring the project’s sustainability over time. These activities allowed us to train over 300 adults, create a solid foundation for future initiatives, and achieve further significant results for the development of the entire target group's learning capabilities.<< Results >>Among the main outputs, we developed and made available the following:1. PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR RESEARCH AND FOCUS GROUPS2. PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR ADULT EDUCATORS (EDA)3. TRAINING PROGRAM IN 10 E-VIDEO MODULES4. PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR USING THE 10 E-VIDEO MODULES5. INSTRUCTIONS FOR CREATING LEARNERS’ FINAL PROJECTS6. EXAMPLES OF LEARNERS’ FINAL DIGITAL PROJECTS7. n. 10 TRAINING VIDEOS/E-MODULES8. n. 7 LOCAL MINI EVENTS9. n. 3 EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST10. YOUTUBE CHANNEL, WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES (FB, LINKEDIN, INSTAGRAM), NEWSLETTER, LOGO, AND VISUAL MATERIALS11. n. 2 TRANSNATIONAL PROJECT MEETINGS (TPM) AND PERIODIC ONLINE MEETINGS12. SURVEY FOR ADULTS AND COMPANIES13. INITIAL MINI COURSE14. HOW TO INTEGRATE THE 10 BEST PRACTICES15. HOW TO CREATE THE FINAL PROJECT USING SYNTHESIA16. VIDEO TESTIMONIALS17. QUIZ RESPONSES (quiz results)18. ERASMUSDAY VIDEO TESTIMONIALS19. n.5 EPALE ARTICLES20. POLICY RECOMMENDATION21. REPORTS ON PROJECT PROGRESS, DISSEMINATION, IMPACT AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROJECT