E-skills and Initiatives CARER+ piloting in Latvia - Jakobsone

e-Skills initiatives and Carer+ pilot in Latvia

Mara Jakobsone, Dr. Oec. Vice-President

Latvian Information and Communications Technology Association

Carer+ evaluation workshopParis, March 26, 2015

E-SKILLS – A PRIORITY FOR LATVIA

Reflected in government policy documents since early 2000Different initiatives by NGO, ICT industry and public sectorNational e-skills partnership established in Latvia in 2013 Digital literacy for everyone – one of the targets Main players:

Latvia public library networkLIKTAConnect Latvia project (focus on seniors only)Municipalities All initiatives realized in PPP

LIBRARIES IN LATVIA – HIGHLY DEMANDED

42% of population are active library customers Library is the only Internet access point for 21% of population in Latvia90% of library visitors use the InternetSeniors and off-liners – very important target group100% Wi-Fi access in public libraries6.4 users’ PCs per library (on average)

«CONNECT LATVIA» – SUPPORT TO SENIORS

Project initiated and supported by LattelecomTarget audience – seniors 50 and overStarted 5 years ago with overall target 30000 traineesAvailable through Latvia:

Partnership with local schools, LLL centers, libraries, LIKTA 144 training locations131 trainers

WHAT DO SENIORS PREFER TO LEARN ?

Computer basicsOnline basics:

E-mailsInternet searchSecurity issues

CommunicationsSkype dominant in market

E-services: Internet bankingOnline shoppingContent download (news, books, recipes, etc.)Most popular public services

CARE SECTOR IN LATVIA

Age structure of care workers: 18-25 years – 3%26-35 years – 23%36-45 years – 17% 46-55 years – 20%56-61 years – 37%

Mostly women, secondary educationAverage salaries* in Latvia:

Care worker salary = minimal salary in Latvia (8h work per day) 360+10%Average salary 800 EURIT industry >1300 EUR (Top 4 highest)

* incl. employee taxes

CARE SECTOR IN LATVIA – E-SKILLS

A situation is different as carers are of different age and target groups:

The younger carers – under 35 years – have medium level digital skills (basic computer users experience, office skills)Older carers – 50+ usually have low or no digital skills. Most of carers are from the second target group

CARER PILOT BACKGROUND – STRENGTH

Good infrastructure of internet and devicesA list of nationwide networks of professional e-skills support organizations and trainers used to work with senior audiences and different entry levels of digital skillsA number of localized training methodologies and materials for digital literacy (and even ones specially designed for seniors) available in all possible formats and 2 languages Public recognition of e-skills importance for seniors by general audience as well as by seniors themselves, several support mechanisms available for joining the trainingsPrincipal willingness of care workers to acquire/improve their digital skills

CARER PILOT BACKGROUND – RISKS

Low public recognition of the carer professionOne of the lowest paid professions in Latvia Socio-economic divide among the care recipients which leads to digital divide:

Income levelGeneral education backgroundFamily and health statusLife style and habits

Some care workers will leave their position for better job as a consequence of improved digital skillsSome care receivers who need the help more will not be able to join the activities due to social/health/lifestyle issues

CARER+ PILOT IN LATVIA

In total 50 pairs involved 40 care workers from Riga (iPad

air, iPad mini)40 care receivers from Riga (sony

xperia +nfc)10 informal care givers in

different regional/rural cities (iPad air)

10 informal care receivers in different remote regional cities (iPad air)

TRAINING ACCORDING TO COMPETENCE FRAMEWORK

TRAINING SCHEDULE

Care workers and informal care givers were trained from January to mid-November of 2014Care receivers were trained/ working in pairs from May to mid-November of 2014Training modules for care workers/ICG:

1.-3.modules (8h face to face, 32h distance learning)4.-5.modules (12h face to face, 28h distance learning)

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN TRAINING

For care workers/ICG training :Not used to e-learning

Solution : blended learning; starting f2f; group work; learning from colleaguesDifferent working schedules make difficult to plan f2f trainings

Solution : training provided in late evenings

For care recipients : Physical conditionMental , emotional conditionEducation levelAttitude towards ICTAge Previous knowledge of ICT

MOST USEFUL APPLICATIONS DECLARED

For Care Workers : gmail and other google tools (google forms, calendar, etc.), Skype,VoIP social networks, Maps, internet browser for information search, Camera, photo uploads Cloud services

For Care Receivers Internet browser for information search, You tube, Skype, Panic/security button

PILOT EVALUATUON- EXIT SURVEYS ( CW )

Question themes : Compare expectations and resultsEvaluate impact on digital competencesEvaluate impact on work dutiesEvaluate impact on personal lifeWillingness to continue

Main findings : Almost all claim raise of their digital skills and confidence ; results match expectationsOver 60% agree they have more access to professional informationOver 50 % agree the technologies positively impact their work with CR Over 80 % evaluate positively impact on their personal development/life

CARE WORKERS : FOCUS GROUPS CONCLUIONS

ICT tools improves care work,ICT supports better planning, communication and accessibility to information on internet;Care worker ICT work with care receiver should be paid additionally ! Digital technology usage encourage socialization and personal developments for CWAlmost all participants recognize that they will further develop their digital skills after end of the projectAbout 20 % of all will continue to use the devices after end of project on their every day work- in pairs with their Care receivers !

EXIT SURVEYS – CARE RECEIVERS

CR acceptance for ICT tolls depends on many different aspects (age, previous experience, education level, health situation, etc.). It can be positive or negative;Some of the barriers for feeling comfortable:

Afraid to broke/damage the deviceNot enthusiastic since this is short term solution

Most appreciated aspects of using the tools : Possibility to communicate ( families, CW ) Access to information :

Use of technologies after the project end: About 20 % continue together with their CWAbout 25 % - will use similar technologies on their own – mostly family contacts, informationAbout another 25 % - pity that they have to give back the device !