Best Practice 18

DigEm was an innovative digital empowering project that used 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.

DigEm places the learner at the centre of the teaching method, and draws upon personal experiences to engage them e.g. “Digitales approach” engages them on developing a 2min. film about their lives, for publication on the internet. DigEm introduces basic ICT competence e.g using word process to create scripts, blogs, using picture and editing software, using the internet (e-mail and other services/training, hobbies). 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.

DigEm trained various trainers coming from NGOs relative to the target groups, in order to access a wider number of end-users. NGOs/Associations are usually working with more than one groups. Based on this principle the methodology and trainers guide is a collection of tools/approaches (one stop-shop concept) that each trainer/ organization will be able to adapt and use for diverse groups and situations. Training of end-users also took place in the course of DigEm in order to test the results of the methodology and include the evaluation of the pilot training (good/bad practises &techniques) to the trainers guide.

DigEm is complemented by the development of an e-content platform to facilitate trainees (trainers/end-users). The platform also favours the showcase of the products of end-users, the creation of social networks and successive interchange of information, empower all educational actors and foster the linking up of learning and users communities.

The project is being coordinated by DIMITRA ITD with the participation of partner organization from eight  (8) European Countries; England, Spain, Poland, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Cyprus and Greece.

Methodology guide & Trainers Toolkit provides an overview of the methodology and the ingredients required to create successful digital storytelling projects. The Methodology Guide sets the general framework for the trainers on how to use the contents and tools. The Trainers Toolkit provides a collection of tools and approaches (following the concept of one stop-shops) that each trainer and organization will be able to adapt and use according to the learners group’ needs and the training aims.

During the course of the project more than 30 trainers have been trained in the Digital storytelling methods and were provided with all the tools needed in order to train the end users.

During the course of end users trainings more that 79 Digital stories were developed, during which the creators shared their story and tried to connect with their peers and the environment that were living and working.

All the videos and further info for the project may be found at the project site : http://www.digem.eu/

DigEm – Digital Empowerment, has been chosen as a Best Practice in ICT for learning project representing Greece.  The novel feature of the DigEm project is that it fosters creativity and communication skills through narration, photography, music and video editing to develop basic ICT skills, learning to learn, as well as social and civic competences.