Digital Societies, Digital Inclusion
The European Basic Skills Network is announcing an online discussion on digital inclusion of adults in the framework of the network's Capacity Building Series. The discussion is scheduled to start on 6 March, 2019 9:00 (CET) and be finalised on 7 March, 2019 17:00 (CET) and its experiences are aimed at contributing to the EBSN's forthcoming open education resource (OER) in the theme of digital inclusion.
In the framework of the current thematic focus on EPALE, issues related to digitalisation and adult learning have been targeted from a number of different approaches. There are at least two clearly distinguished foci in this matter:
- the utilisation of digital materials, applications, and devices as tools that facilitate and enhance all forms for learning, including basic literacy skills for adults, (see Graciela Sbertoli’s comments on digital tools for initial literacy),
- the improvement of basic digital skills for social inclusion, which addresses the importance of the digital component in functional literacy and poses the challenge of digital divide.
By addressing the former approach (i.e. digital tools to develop basic skills) one finds a number of useful input in a previous online discussion on the use of digital tools in the provision of initial literacy and numeracy training and of language provision for immigrants. The latter approach brings up the issue of citizens with less developed digital skills becoming more and more marginalised in societies. David Mallows mentions in his blog post on the Digital Inclusion Pathway that
„As the online world encroaches ever further on the physical world we should pay great attention to digital inclusion – ensuring that each member of society is able to engage effectively with the riches of the digital world.”
In many countries the growing extent to which public services e.g. banking, public administration, taxation, etc. are becoming digitalised creates a challenge to citizens who are less digitally competent to fall behind and become more isolated and vulnerable.
Participants are encouraged to share their experiences and thoughts on the following questions:
- Who in your experience are the most vulnerable when it comes to ’e-services’ in societies and what are the major challenges?
- What programs do you know that specifically aim at including citizens with less sufficient digital skills (e.g. the elderly) into digitalised public services (e.g. e-governance systems)?
- What are the success criteria of any national program aiming at fighting the digital divide?
The discussion will open 9:00-17:00 CET, from 6 to 7 March.
Kumment
Further comments
Thank you all for your input! The moderation is now over, but your further contribution is still very welcome!
ICT are very useful here, but
today @13h00 @ http://icae.global/en/2019/02/webinar-with-henriq
Erasmus+ Projects in Austria
Interesting
Thank you for your input, these projects seem very interesting!
Programs and initiatives for digital inclusion
Good morning! Happy to join
overcoming challenges
Moderation continues...
Moving now on to Question 2
- Digital Single Market strategy is one of the major underlying initiative of the EU which also implies consideration on digital inclusion. On this website, the Commission collected some ideas and tools on inclusion.
- It is worth looking at a list of EU-funded projects on digital inclusion.
- A broad overview of the interlinked initiatives are presented on the e-government policy site of the Digital Single Market strategy, where one of the key document is also accessible: the eGovernment Action Plan of 2011-2015.
I think that, as with all
Vulnerable target groups
we need a EU common vision and EU leadership
...some initiatives in Portugal
EU context
Vulnerable target groups
Context of use most relevant driver for learning of ICT?
Contextualisation and tailor-made courses
Use of ICT is just one aspect
Yes, adult education needs to
Approach for "digital literacy courses" on a digital platform
The elderly at risk
Thank you for your comment. I also agree that one of the vulnerable groups in society is the elderly. There is an initiative directly addressing this target group to improve social participation, mobility and generally keeping people active. The programme is called "Ageing Well in the digital world".
Welcome
Welcome to the current event on digital inclusion. The discussion is now open for reflection and your contribution. Although moderation will close at 17:00 CET, you are free to post a comment after this time.
To begin with, we would be interested in what you see as main challenges to the digitalising e-governance services and who in your experiences are the most vulnerable in this matter?
Launching of EU Fund Project on forest digitalisation