Media Retreat: Western Hideout - Training în Birmingham, UK
INTRODUCTION
Over the past decades media and digital tools revolutionised the world, becoming an inseparable part of our work, studies, daily routines and even free time activities. Hard as it is to argue, the ‘e-world’ is fast becoming a new dimension of ‘living’ and doing business, with millions of companies, institutions, organisations and other entities turning ‘e’ (e.g. with their e-services, e-clients, e-sales, e-health care and overall e-governance, etc.). It is not surprising then that also the European Commission has turned ‘e’ with its promotion of ‘Digital Agenda for Europe’ in the new Europe 2020 strategy (http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/). Through promotion of digital economy as well as digital society, the Commission is looking for new solutions towards everyday issues and thus making Europe one of the most advanced communities in the world. What has all that to do with non-formal education, youth organisations and young people themselves?
Just like in case of many things around, the reality of youth work has undergone tremendous changes due to widespread digitalisation. This has not only affected teaching, training and delivery of educational activities in the youth field, but also the way youth organisation operate, attract young people with their services or even promote themselves. In order to stay visible and up-to-date, it is necessary then to ensure that media and digital tools are skilfully used in day-to-day management of youth organisations.
OBJECTIVES
The proposed training course Media Retreat: Western Hideout is aimed at promoting the use of digital tools and new media as the means of awaking human and organisational potentials within youth work. In order to reach this aim, the following objectives shall be implemented:
- developing key knowledge, skills and attitudes as the necessary ingredients in becoming successful and independent users of modern technologies
- raising awareness of how digital tools and new media aid youth work and help to create greater impact of present day youth activities
- creating space for effective transfer of know-how in regards to media literacy and digitalisation across Europe
- exchanging tools, methods, idea, etc. in the use of modern technologies across youth work in Europe
- fostering European cooperation in the youth field and supporting the development of new and innovative solutions for new generations of digitalised youth organisations
- discovering the potential of Erasmus+ Programme as a tool for developing media literacy and thus promoting smarter growth through establishing ‘Digital agenda for Europe.’
As such, the training course proposed is going to take the best of all three worlds of education – formal, non-formal and in-formal – for reaching the objectives and producing a feasible outcome in form of 'MELT: Media Literacy Toolbox For Educators': a living handbook with useful methods, tools and tips for everyone willing to tackle the issue of media literacy or use of e-learning in their work. The manual will be prepared jointly by the course participants as well as partner promotes engaged in the project.
PARTICIPANTS
The proposed project is aimed at wide range of youth work practitioners (youth workers, educators, trainers, coaches, youth leaders) as well as member of the partner organisations, responsible for media coverage within and outside the organisational structures.
In particular, we are looking for participants of the following profile:
legal age: 18+
good knowledge of spoken and written English, allowing for effective communication and, ultimately, transfer of knowledge
keen interest in the themes covered by the course (demonstrated through the answers in the application)
willingness to participate actively in the whole duration of the training course (from preparation to dissemination phase)
demonstrated potential of turning the newly developed/improved skills into activities carried out with sending organisations, young people, local communities, etc.
METHODOLOGY
So as to maximise the learning and impact exerted on the course participants, the main body of knowledge shall be delivered with the extensive use of non-formal education tools. These will include: individual / pair / groups work, discussions, brainstorming, teambuilding exercises, model thinking,
simulation exercises, mind mapping, input by trainers, debriefing of exercises, individual and group reflection, etc.
All these will be further enriched with energisers and other shorts activities used for capturing the attention. Also, the course is expected to be practical in nature. Therefore, workshops on the use of ICT and media tools will take place as part of the daily activities. For the sake of that participants will be encouraged to bring their own laptops, tables, camera, video recorders and any other digital resources to be used.
EXPECTED IMPACT:
- increased knowledge, skills and attitudes related to the use of new media and digital tools in the local/national and international youth work activities
- concrete (hard) skills in the use of media tools developed
- greater awareness gained of how to implement a media rich dissemination campaign
- better understanding of the benefits and dangers of (mis)using media
- greater confidence gained in using media and digital tool for the sake of organisation management and personal development
- improved motivation to be an active yet considerate user of media tools, etc.
- international network of new media in youth work supporters created
- new ideas for local and international projects developed
- staff members, volunteers, trainers, etc. trained in the use of new media tools and available to apply these into the organisation etc.
FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS
The following project is financially supported by the ERASMUS+ grant. Hence, 100% of food and accommodation expenses will be covered by the organisers, as well as up to 100% of the overall travel costs (please see the max. allowances per country listed below).
Also, due to some extra resources required for the course, participation fee has been set as
30 EUR/participant.
PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS
All participants will be accommodated in basic hostel rooms (4-6 beds in each) at the Hatters Hostel, situated within the very centre of Birmingham. You can see the hostel and its facilities here: http://hattershostels.com/birmingham-livery-street/ Additionally, all meals will be provided at the hostel or other workshop venues, depending on the daily programme
The address of the hostel:
92-95 Livery Stree
Birmingham
B3 1RJ
TRAVELLING TO THE UK
Friday 14th October – Please arrive to Birmingham by 6pm at the latest. The meeting place will be the Hatters Hostel, where you will all stay during the course.
Saturday 22nd October – To allow time to get to the airports, your return flight must be after 8 am from Birmingham Airport, or later from other airports. If unsure, please consult us before purchasing any tickets.
In order to find suitable connections between your airport of arrival and Birmingham please check:
- trains - http://www.thetrainline.com
- coaches - http://www.nationalexpress.com or http://uk.megabus.com/
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