Traditions, Recipes and Cuisines of Europe using Smartphones (TRACEUS)
Do you believe that European cultures can be transferred through smartphones? Is there a need to share the European cuisines and traditional recipes online? How could we empower the seniors across Europe to share their unique knowledge?
The TRACEUS project
Striving to contribute to the learning of new technologies and sharing of European traditions, the six partners coming from Ireland, Spain, Belgium, France, Cyprus and Bulgaria joined together to run the TRACEUS project.
TRACEUS (Traditions, Recipes and Cuisines of Europe using Smartphones) is an Erasmus+ funded project aiming to develop and curate a database of recipes, cuisines and traditions (storytelling & singing & dancing) associated with European cuisines using mobile technology as a learning tool.
This innovative approach uses food culture as the vehicle for mobile learning and social integration. TRACEUS was striving to illustrate and provide an accessible model which builds on harnessing inclusive technology learning for citizens at risk of being "e-excluded" in the traditional sense and ensures that their culinary customs and traditions (storytelling, music, dancing) are recorded and curated in an accessible way for all.
Our results
Throughout the project lifecycle, the project partners created an authoring training for the creation of digital content specially designed to train older people and migrants, and in which they learn how to share their knowledge, skills and experiences.
The project partners created an innovative, interactive learning platform - a repository of digital, multimedia enriched learning content and an open-source database curated recipes, stories and traditions from the different partner countries. This platform is usable on mobile devices as well as desktops or laptops, to broaden the take-up of the cooking videos. Using the recording functions on smartphones, video recordings were made by older people/migrants to record recipes and food preparation of traditional recipes and associated customs and traditions.
This project thus has contributed to innovation and internationalization in adult education, strengthened cooperation between older people and migrants, helped to raise the level of key competences and skills, stressed active participation in European society, increased opportunities for further development of older adults and migrants, and provided an opportunity to participate in innovative educational activities.
As a result of the project, the partners have also seen that food is an excellent bridge between cultures and technologies, allowing seniors and migrants to harness the ICT technologies while demonstrating their expertise and sharing their traditions built up through decades. Any person can thus access the developed resources on the Traceus project website to join the community of people sharing their culture and traditions through their smartphones.
Website : https://traceus.eu/about/
Comments
Thoughts on TRACEUS project -- in response
Hi Karla
Thanks for your observation. I acknowledge the limitations and challenges of the project, which you have highlighted.
The concept for the project was built on the use of Smartphones which are far more accessible than computers and laptops. Research indicates that the majority of older people own a smartphone, so the project focus is to utilise the existing resources of that as a tool. There is a step-by-step training manual which can be downloaded.
Several of the participants in the training pilot were over 80. Although there were hiccups along the way, they submitted some lovely videos and have gone on to make recordings of their lives to share with their grandchildren. It would be super to have someone supporting an older person through the process, and yes, I absolutely agree with you, so many older people are excluded because of the digital divide made worse by the pandemic. Still, perhaps with your support, you can help your Grandmother to record and curate a dish or tradition from her life, which could be shared via the platform.
The Erasmus projects are a fantastic way to promote collaboration and innovation. If we had a mechanism to further promote and publicise them, it would be wonderful. If you could promote this opportunity through your own network it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you again for taking the time to comment and reflect on the project .
Thoughts on the TRACEUS project
What a wonderful idea! I really like the concept. Even though I don't think it is easily accessible to all old people. My grandma doesn't even have wifi, nor a computer. So I asm the question; how do they even get to know about the project? It's a nice opportunity for older people who already know some technical stuff. But I think the ones without technology are the ones who need it the most. In times of the pandemic and even before, they are left behind in our digital society. Therefor this is a great motivation for them to participate and share something important for them. But I think they need at least one person supporting and teaching them. It is a great idea to connect people. Especially the ones who are really lonely and don't have anyone to talk to. It is nice to learn at an old age, to decrease maybe racism and make new frineds. And even for younger generations to learn online about traditions and recipes. That way the old people have a purpose and a meaningful task.