Digital Services & Senior's Inclusion: The potential of a Libraries & Communities Alliance in the post COVID Era

<< Background >>We applied for this project with the aim of fostering the rights of individuals of older age to access information and lifelong learning and enjoy the right of participation in everyday society as independent citizens, through digitally active ageing. DSSI set out to empower older people to make full use of the fantastic range of services available online and receive the full benefit of inclusion. In addition, DSSI aimed to help senior learners become confident to independently use a range of digital, public, and commercial services. Through the development & implementation of a highly innovative curriculum of free online training on how to use the internet and access digital library and public services for remote users of an older age, the project has addressed the needs of older people who feel digitally under skilled and feel left out. During the project, adult educators and library staff took part in training, to support them in providing online e- courses to senior learners in their area. DSSI also designed, developed and managed the freely available DSSI Online Platform, a highly innovative flexible online environment for the uploading and making available of training materials featuring 6 online modules. << Objectives >>The project aimed to develop an open platform for a curriculum of free online training on how to use the internet and access digital library and public services for remote users of an older age, that are digitally under skilled and feel excluded. These aims are line with the objectives set by the European Commission Council Recommendation on ADULT Education and Training (ADU) (2020). The project aimed to: Support the improvement of digital education in order to meet the challenges arising from the external shocks of the COVID-19 crisis in the shorter term (The Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027); Enhance digital andragogy and expertise for adult trainers and digital literacy (The Digital Education Action Plan 2021- 2027); Foster trainers capacity to use digital tools and content, test and promote blended learning (The Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027); Support older people to develop the digital skills needed to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the green and digital transitions (The European Skills Agenda 2020); Support adult learning across all environments for social inclusion, active citizenship and personal development beyond working life (The European Skills Agenda 2020).<< Implementation >>Key activities implemented included 5 National Desk studies highlighting seniors’ digital skills gap and social exclusion. Senior Learner's Profile and Senior Educators Needs was established via creation and distribution of comprehensive national surveys. This enabled the DSSI Comparative Report, incorporating the findings of the National Reports and surveys and design of the online training curriculum (WP2). In WP3, design and Development of the DSSI online Modules learning contents occurred, the development of DSSI Training e-books and online Assessment Tool. WP3 also developed the DSSI Teaching Method and TPM2 was hosted by CU (Online), as part of this WP, where the modules were discussed, and measures adopted to ensure their delivery. Key activities implemented in WP 4 were the DSSI Online Platform, DSSI Learning & Training Initiatives for adult educators and seniors and development of the DSSI Educational Tool Kit with effective project dissemination occurring as part of WP 5. Project implementation was guided by effective project management in WP1 (e.g. Project Management Handbook, Quality Plan, Mgt. tools), and online Mgt. meetings and physical meetings abroad involving all partners (Kick off, TPM3, TPM4 (Final).<< Results >>The concrete results of the project were as follows: 5 National DSSI desk studies; Senior Learner’s profile established (survey addressed to senior learners, establishing level of digital competence, specific needs, areas of difficulty & uncertainty when using the internet); Senior educator’s needs (a survey addressed to library staff as non-formal adult educators, & adult educators in order to collect information about their main needs in delivering senior training); Comparative report: Digital Services & Senior’s Inclusion (WP2). Other concrete results include the DSSI online Modules learning contents (6 modules developed), 6 DSSI Training e-books, the DSSI Assessment Tool & DSSI Teaching Method (A complete set of guidelines for the training of adult educators) (WP3). Further key results delivered are the DSSI Online Platform (an OER environment for the uploading of the training material, tailored in line with the senior learner’s individual needs & specifications), DSSI Training for Adult Educators and Senior Learners and the development of the DSSI Educational Toolkit. Results were successfully disseminated in WP 5 using various means (Project Website, Logo, Social Media, 4 e-Newsletters, Leaflets, Multiplier & other Events).