Technology & its role for social inclusion: the final conference of E-DESIGN

Nov 29, 2021News

On the 25th of November, the final conference of the E-DESIGN project took place in the Aula Magna of the Scientific Highschool “Benedetto Croce”, an E-DESIGN ICT Training Hotspot, together with the “Festival of sciences”. In total, around 200 participants including students, teachers, educators and NGO representatives were present to see the final projects of students, listen to the project’s lessons learned, and try-out some technologies themselves.

Digital competences are becoming more and more important. In the future, about 90% of the jobs will require some level of digital skills, jobs in the technology fields are the jobs that will expand in the future, as well as new jobs will be created that at the moment do not yet exist. This asks for flexibility, versatile skills, creativity and basic digital competences, something that in Palermo is not yet stressed enough and definitely not for those ones who have difficult access to schooling or other educational possibilities. Therefor, the E-DESIGN project has set out to create points in the city (ICT Training Hotspot) in which participants from different ages and backgrounds could come together and learn about technologies, digital skills and non-digital skills which are essential for the jobs of the future. In three years, more that 600 participants in 5 partner countries have been engaged in ICT courses, enabling them to acquire a variety of skills, from microcontrollers to 3D printing, to app development and web development. By means of ICT challenges (the E-DESIGN approach), participants were encouraged to develop digital skills, learn autonomously, and develop their competences in team work, design thinking, creative thinking, and problem solving.

The whole day was dedicated to science and technology, but also to raising awareness about their importance and accessibility to them. During the day students who participated to the E-DESIGN course at the ICT training Hotspot in the school presented their Arduino projects to other younger students and their teachers. Furthermore, for teachers there was the possibility to receive information about the E-DESIGN project and the materials that could be useful in the classroom. Next to the E-DESIGN stand, there were also other students who presented their projects and results from other science and technology classes that they have followed with C.A.S.A. a Ballarò.

To see the project that have been created in this ICT Training hotspot, you can watch the video below:

 

After the students presented their projects, it was the turn of the E-DESIGN staff to present the project to externals, including teachers, volunteers, NGO representatives and political actors who were interested in the project. A general presentation focused on the importance of digital skills for the job market and for life, and how a project like E-DESIGN can help reduce the pressing digital skills divide that is present in Italy and Europe. Many examples of the project were given, with a focus on the ICT challenges as a way to use technology to promote social inclusion. Finally, the handbook developed during the activities was proposed as a tool for other teachers, volunteers and organizations that would like to continue the work of E-DESIGN in Palermo. To have a look at the slides of the presentation, please click here.

During the break, some tips and tricks were exchanged, and then it was time for the practical part of the day; the workshops. Two workshops were held, one about 3D modelling and printing, and another one about Arduino. For some it was a moment to ‘finally’ try out Arduino, for others it was the first time they approached this activity. Also, the workshop of the 3D printer was followed with attention and interests.

The E-DESIGN project has now almost come to an end. The final month was dedicated to the writing and creation of the handbook, as well as informing political actors, teachers, youngsters and parents about the importance of digital skills and raising awareness about their potential to foster social inclusion. It is already available in English here and will be published in Italian on the CSC website: https://en.danilodolci.org/project/e-design/

 

 

E-DESIGN: EUROPEAN DIGITAL EDUCATION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION AND GLOBAL NEIGHBOURHOOD is a three-year project co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme, Key Action 3 – Social Inclusion and Common Value. The purpose of the project is to contribute to promoting social inclusion and combating social inequalities among disadvantaged groups, especially migrants and refugees, through strengthening their digital competences in order to enhance their labour market opportunities and social participation according to the objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights and ET 2020.

Partners

For further information visit the website e-designproject.eu, follow us on Facebook or write to Vidjaya Thelen: vidjaya.thelen@danilodolci.org.