Digital Native NEETs - Pathways to Skills Development

"<< Background >>HANG OUT: Digital Native NEETs - Pathways to Skills Development was initiated to address the specific needs of NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), particularly in the context of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing the importance of second-chance education, the project aimed to provide a tailored Continuous Professional Development Programme for Adult Educators. This program focused on equipping educators with innovative methods and resources, including WebQuests and a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform.The curriculum, ""60-seconds on, 60-minutes on,"" played a crucial role in empowering NEETs with essential digital skills and competencies. The project's approach aimed not only to prevent unemployment but also to foster a supportive learning environment for NEETs, allowing them to express themselves and engage with relevant topics through digital platforms. Education emerged as a key tool to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the target group, emphasizing the project's commitment to addressing the evolving needs of NEETs.<< Objectives >>The primary goal of the project was to empower NEETs by equipping them with essential digital skills, ensuring they are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the digital age. This overarching objective was achieved through the development and implementation of the Continuous Professional Development Programme for Adult Educators. Simultaneously, a comprehensive curriculum focusing on digital media content creation aimed to directly address the specific needs of NEETs.A MOOC platform was established, which creates an interactive and engaging digital learning environment, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange within a transnational network of educators. The aim was to bridge the digital skills gap, ensuring that both NEETs and educators had the tools and resources necessary for success in a rapidly evolving digital world. In essence, the project set out to achieve skill development, social inclusion, and educational empowerment for NEETs and educators alike.<< Implementation >>The project's implementation consisted in a multifaceted approach, including a Virtual Multiplier Event hosted by ALK, National Multiplier Events conducted individually by partner organizations, National In-service training programs, a Learning, Teaching, and Training Activity (LTTA) hosted by TRH, and culminating in a Final Conference held in Opava.These activities were strategically designed to facilitate knowledge dissemination, engage stakeholders, and enhance the skills of both NEETs and educators. The Virtual Multiplier Event, National Multiplier Events, and the Final Conference served as opportunities for presenting project outcomes, while the focused nature of the National In-service training programs and LTTA provided targeted skill development opportunities. Together, these activities formed a comprehensive and impactful implementation strategy for the HANG OUT project,<< Results >>The project has three intellectual outputs as following:IO1 – The Hang Out Continuous Professional Development Programme for Community and Adult Educators. The development of this programme was lead by ALK. It supports front-line workers to deliver digital media skills training to our target group – NEETs. The output focuses on developing digital skills and competences so adult educators are confident and comfortable to deliver IO2 to young learners and NEETs. The programme includes 60 hours of training: 4-hour introduction, 21-hours face-to-face learning content focused on the technical skills, and 35-hours of self-directed online learning resources.The 21 hours of F2F learning delivers the following curriculum:• Video production, including production of videos for TikTok• Audio recording and editing for podcasts• Social media platforms – TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTubeThe 35 hours of self-directed learning deals with the following topics:• Embedded learning theory – strategies to engage hard-to-reach young learners• Challenge-based learning theory – teaching through WebQuests and developing WebQuests• Applying digital tools – digital skills to provide engaging digital learning experiences• Digital media theory – theory of lighting, sound and video production• Social media literacy – pitfalls and benefits of integrating social media into teachingThis output is available in all partner languages - English, Czech, German, Polish, French, Spanish and Greek. The Continuous Professional Development Programme was implemented in all partner countries.IO2 – 60-seconds on, 60 seconds-on CurriculumThis output’s development was lead by The Rural Hub and it wasa developed as a series of 12 WebQuests that allow NEETs and young adults to develop digital media content focused on some of the issues that could have affected them. These activities give our target group the voice to express their concerns and thoughts.Through the set of six “60-seconds on” WebQuests, NEETs were able to develop a sixty-second long TikTok video exploring one of the following areas:Mental health awareness• Drug / alcohol use• Sexual health• Sexual orientation• Social anxiety• Peer pressureThrough the set of six “60-minutes on” WebQuests, NEETs were be able to fully produce a podcast on one of the following issues:• Social media and mental health• Climate change and climate anxiety• Money worries – financial literacy• Employment prospects after a pandemic• Physical health and obesity in Europe• Body image and self-confidenceBy completing these WebQuests, NEETs and young adults can develop multiple skills – the ability to work in a team, researching information, and digital skills.This intellectual output is available all partner languages – English, Czech, German, Polish, French, Spanish and Greek. The Curriculum was implemented in all partner countries.IO3 – MOOC (Massive Open On-line Course)The MOOC platform provides access to gamified online modules of IO1 - Continuous Professional Development Programme, and IO2 - 60-seconds on, 60 seconds-on Curriculum. At the end of each WebQuest, learners have the opportunity to upload their 60-second video or 60-minute podcast to the MOOC which creates a digital library storing content created by young people across Europe. In other words, the MOOC platform provides an interactive digital learning experience for community and adult educators, NEETs, and young adults. All of the outputs are available here: https://hangoutmooc.eu/"