DigitalGo

<< Background >>Digital literacy among the elderly in Europe has become increasingly important in recent years as technology continues to play a larger role in daily life. However, many older adults in Europe still struggle with basic digital skills, such as using a computer, a smartphone or navigating the internet. This can limit their ability to access important information and services, as well as prevent them from fully participating in the digital economy and its benefits. DigitalGO aims at including the elderly population living in rural communities in the digital transformation. It achieves this goal by supporting them with basic digital literacy and at the same time, acknowledging their relevant role as “keepers” of valuable intangible cultural heritage. This way, the inherent experience of the elderly is collected to then be shared as a community asset. Furthermore, the transnational European approach fosters the building of a learning community, promoting synergies with other initiatives. Over 10 months, the project successfully implemented a pilot learning program with Erasmus+ support in four EU rural regions, improving digital skills in writing, photography, audio and video from elderly people and ensuring their intangible wasn' lost<< Objectives >>The main objectives of the project were: 1. Foster digital skills among elderly people living in European rural regions, and by doing so, engage them in the global digital transition. 2. Design and create a basic digital learning programme tailored for adults with low previous digital literacy. 3. Collect and place value on intangible cultural heritage kept within rural dwellers, pointing out these regions’ meaningful legacy and preventing it from being lost. 4. Create a learning network which connects elderly people all across the EU, promoting cooperation and exchange among them and their communities, by exploring digitally available tools and digital transformation-related opportunities.<< Implementation >>The project was run by four partners, experts in their related fields - ACDIPE (PT) - coordination and communication, INTRAS (ES) - program design for the elderly, AS.FOR.IN (IT) - program design for trainers, Museum of Slavonia (CR) - exhibition. The program covered practical digital performance concepts in four modules – writing, photo, video, and audio, adapted and tailored to elderly people’s needs and context. A bigger engagement and learning success was ensured as, while attending the course, participants actively contributed to the co-creation of a hybrid exhibition which showcased their knowledge & expertise about local traditions, festivities and crafts. An exhibition and a virtual museum were the result of the work of the elderly and a window into their world, united with one theme (although diverse in many details). The project handbook was designed to summarise and make accessible the project results containing the syllabus, training materials, materials for social workers and the insights of all participating groups: trainers, learners, organisers, hosting organisations, etc. This enables the replication of the project.<< Results >>During four sessions, of at least two hours each, twenty-seven participants from four countries joined together to improve or acquire digital skills. From these co-creation sessions, tailored according to participants' needs, audio, video, writing and video content were produced and later organized to be exhibited online and in the Museum of Slavonia. The content produced by the participants came from intangible heritage they shared during the sessions as memories, songs, poems, traditions, recipes, handicrafts and others. In order to support trainees and trainers to develop the session and get results two guides were developed: Syllabus for professionals and Syllabus for Learners. With the experience gained during the process, a project handbook was developed, so others can implement similar activities. All these resources are available on the project webpage:;https://www.digital-go.eu/#/resources and in the EPALE space. The final outcome of the project - the exhibition - is available in four different languages: • English: https://360.digital-go.eu/en/ • Portuguese: https://360.digital-go.eu/pt/ • Italian: https://360.digital-go.eu/it/ • Spanish: https://360.digital-go.eu/es/ • Croatian: https://360.digital-go.eu/cr/