In September of this year 2023, the international distance training program, "Digital Inclusion for All learners," will commence. This program is intended for teachers, school administrators, and educational support specialists.

The training has been prepared in cooperation between the Swedish "Ossiannilsson Quality in Open Online Learning (QOOL) Consultancy" and the scientific association - Lithuanian College of Democracy (LDUK). The program will be conducted in English, and translation into Lithuanian is expected. The training is free of charge, and registration is open until the 4th of September. You can apply by using the following link: https://forms.gle/TdEtsSHQP5vtBuf49.

Digitalization is Transforming Educational Traditions

Digital innovations, from mobile phones to artificial intelligence, are increasingly changing lives and everyday life. The field of education is also not far behind these changes, and experts predict that digital innovations can radically change the education system and the functioning of schools.

Adapting to these innovations can provide an opportunity to personalize the learning and teaching processes, tailoring it to the needs of each student and ensuring the quality of education. Digital innovation enables the creation of customized curricula and the utilization of a variety of teaching methods, engaging students in active participation. Additionally, they help overcome geographical and social barriers, promoting digital inclusion.

By providing access to global information, these innovations foster creativity, problem-solving skills, and equip students with new knowledge and abilities. It is these aspects that will be analyzed in the training program "Digital Inclusion for All," which is scheduled to start in September 2023.

“The Digital Inclusion for Al”l training program aims to promote digital inclusion at all stages of education and ensure that modern technologies and digital skills are accessible to everyone, regardless of their social, economic, or geographical situation. 

This training program aims to enable teachers and other education specialists to better understand how to use digital tools and technologies to enhance the learning experience of students and achieve improved results," assures the initiator of the training program and head of QOOL - Professor Dr. Ebba Ossiannilsson also working for the European Commission on the Scenario analysis focus group_DG EAC school education until 2040.

According to Dr. Eglė Celiešienė, an expert of the European Commission's group on school well-being and LDUK researcher, the tasks of this program aim to improve the digital inclusion competencies of professionals working in education, enhance the quality of learning, and promote digital inclusion, with a particular emphasis on the most sensitive groups in society.

Advances in technology are fundamentally changing the approach to education. Digital content, the use of AI  and fast information retrieval allow for significant improvements in teaching and learning outcomes. The digitalization of educational content, along with the application of innovations in educational processes and distance learning, is gradually becoming an inevitable necessity in today's world, stiving for equity, inclusiion, diversity and green sustainability. Therefore, defining the fundamental guidelines for digital educational content and its quality parameters is not only important in Lithuania but also a strategic priority of the European Union's education policy. Lithuania is actively involved in these processes.

New social reality

The pandemic and its challenges have shown that distance learning and digital transformations are essential needs of today's European people, expanding learning opportunities," said E. Ossiannilsson.

Since 2002, Professor Ossiannilsson has been involved in various national and international projects. One of her areas of scientific research is digital inclusion, with a special focus on active citizenship, digitalization, sustainability, and reducing exclusion. Her work is related to lifelong learning activities and the new social contract emphasized by both UNESCO and OECD.

Professor Ossiannilsson has gained worldwide recognition for her consistent attempts to find creative ways to overcome crises. She advocates sharing open educational resources, educational practices, open leadership, and innovative uses of knowledge from various cultures as solutions to overcome any challenges. Ebba's activities are a significant example of national and international leadership.

Her consistent long-term research in open education has had a notable global impact. For the past 20 years, E. Ossiannilsson has been advocating for a world where the future of education is based on open data and freely available, open knowledge resources.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, she has researched and published on how to overcome adversity and thrive in the face of unprecedented challenges or crises, promoting enduring value in science and leadership. This year, the professor received a significant international award - the 2022 Open Education Awards for Excellence, from Open Education Global. This researcher, a doctor of science, is recognized at the national and international levels. She is an expert and consultant in the field of Open Flexible and Distance Learning (OFDL) quality.

The digital relevance of inclusion competence for education

E. Ossiannilsson emphasized that in modern society, learning—an essential human right—must be accessible to every member of society, and digital inclusion is very important in these processes.

The researcher emphasized the necessity of promoting the use of digital technologies in the teaching-learning process and developing digital skills and competencies. She shared her experience in creating a digital education ecosystem on a European scale and discussed the application of digital literacy, a new methodology, in local communities. In this context, several essential aspects emerged, including information search, communication, innovative and engaging content for educational participants, data protection, and digital security. Innovation, research, application, and community education take on new meanings in e-learning concepts and processes.

According to E. Ossiannilsson, intercultural competencies, media literacy, and innovative practices not only increase the quality of education but also promote a sustainable approach to the environment. Remote seminars allow teaching individuals living in the remotest corners of the world, including people with disabilities, to access a quality educational environment. The application of digital technologies in the educational process encourages resource conservation, develops awareness, and involves socially vulnerable groups.

"We all have to become part of the changes, get involved in the application of innovations in education. Changes are determined by involvement, and they are impossible without people, personnel, values," said the professor, justifying the relevance and practical benefits of this project.

Good practices of the project

The trainings, which will start in September 2023, are conducted in collaboration with the Swedish "Ossiannilsson Quality in Open Online Learning (QOOL) Consultancy" and the scientific association - Lithuanian College of Democracy (LDUK) under the "Erasmus+" project "Digital Inclusion of All Learners" (Di4all.eu).

The main objectives of the project are to strengthen the general competences, skills, and learning outcomes of young people at school, promoting the improvement of teaching quality, innovation, and digital inclusion in education. Additionally, the project aims to enhance the competences of educators, increase digital inclusion in education, address the problem of misinformation, and promote teacher education and learning.

The most important aspirations and good practices of the "Digital Inclusion for All" project were presented in the Seimas on December 16, 2023. Furthermore, the project and its activities were discussed with Vilija Targamadze, deputy chairman of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania - Seimas Education and Science Committee and member of the Seimas of the LRS.

Speakers and listeners emphasized the importance of applying change and innovation in education to bring about real transformation for the participants - pupils, students, teachers, and youth workers. Throughout the course of the project, the aim is to develop and approve a digital learning curriculum, create an effective learning methodology and ecos system, and provide tools for school and training organizers to implement the concept of digital inclusion for all in practical activities.

Participants will have a great opportunity to: 

- Acquire knowledge about the application of digital tools in the educational process;

- Exchange experiences with other specialists;

- Learn effective methods to combat misinformation during education and teaching;

- Gain insights into the latest digital tools and resources that promote digital literacy.

 

More information about the project: https://di4all.eu/

You can register for the training here: https://forms.gle/St1g6vKn1tnGMLtr9

 

The Lithuanian Democracy Education College (www.lduk.lt) celebrated its twenty-fifth birthday. The college develops innovative social and educational projects.

One of these projects is "Di4all.eu," which aims to strengthen the general competences of young people and improve learning outcomes in schools. It seeks to promote the enhancement of teaching quality, innovation, and digital education, while also focusing on strengthening the competence of educators, increasing digital inclusion in education, and addressing the issue of misinformation. Furthermore, the project aims to promote teacher education and training.

The DI4ALL project is making significant progress, working with frameworks like DigComp2.2, DigCompEDU, Selfie for teachers, Selfie for schools, and My digital skills. 

As part of the project, various activities will take place, including training sessions for educators, the preparation of a guide for educators, and conducting research on best practices and case studies. Additionally, there are plans to organize a competition for schools to showcase the digital experiences of all learners.