Ahead Project Presentation

Barbara Di Pietro, Superficie 8srl, project coordinating organisation

European level criticalities: 1.Demographic change which affects Europe economic and social models that now requires updated EU policies and strategies

2.The use of ICT for seniors, perceived as a major obstacle from the seniors but conceived to be a tool to reduce the gap between younger and seniors

3.Local and regional actors lack of active ageing promotion (opportunities for physical, social and mental health) and seniors e-inclusion in the society to help older people networking, to continue learning and engaging with friends, family and society even online

Project Objectives:

AHEAD in the Life Long Learning Framework, takes an holistic approach to senior TRAINING and ACTIVE AGEING:

A. SENIOR EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ICT by increasing their knowledge and familiarity with digital technologies, and specifically with mobile applications.

B. PROMOTION of ACTIVE AGEING through a pedagogical framework, an informal training methodology, an innovative training activity.

C. DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW APPROACH TO TOURISM by promoting a community approach to tourism planning as an attempt to formulate a bottom-up form of planning, emphasising development in the community rather than of the community.

The answers: Digital Storytelling & Learning Adventures

AHEAD offered digital storytelling to more than 226 seniors, in Italy, Finland, Slovenia and England,

by teaching to use ICT (tablet), by sharing the stories of their travels and experiences, by creating a new communication opportunity and possible creation of networks and tribes

Transforming all of them in an innovative training activity

Digital Storytelling and Learning adventures

AHEAD offers Digital Storytelling to seniors travel experiences in a combination of informal, experiential and cooperative learning while travelling

Proposing DS to seniors means promoting active aging by (a) stimulating memory, (b) stimulating the senses in writing, reading, selecting pictures, etc., (c) developing ICT-based skills, (d) offering new communication channels, (e) promoting mobility and socialization, f) promoting the empowerment, through the support and reinforcement of the self, enhancing self-esteem, improving learning ability, the acquisition of skills, the ability to work in groups, and learning by doing.

The process:

1st Phase. Developing an application for mobile devices allowing non-digital natives to record and share their travelling experience (audiovisual materials, descriptions and comments) producing digital travel diaries

2nd Phase. Developing a wider pedagogical framework & training programme in order to exploit the aforementioned mobile application as a tool to actually encourage seniors’ active ageing and participation into society, together with the improvement of relevant ICT competences

The Process:

3rd Phase Piloting in Europe the AHEAD approach

through the Training and the test of the app and platform,

through Learning Adventures organisation in England, Finland, Italy and Slovenia

The Learning Adventures :

The outcomes:

-Stories, comments, pictures that can be stored or shared on websites, social networks and different digital or social media

-Sharing the stories produced by the app during the Learning adventures to AHEAD sharing platform, Facebook, youtube

The major results:

Having collaborated with seniors, with experience and knowledge, was precious and interesting both for other groups of seniors, and for younger generations (including relatives), who also enjoy travelling, although they are not as experienced.

Having introduced the produced tools and resources in the activities and initiatives run by local organisations, involved in providing educational and entertainment activities was an added value for its soustainability

Storytelling Adventures to discover and valorize disadvantaged areas: Case Study Perugia Fontivegge Railstation

Social Impact in the community

The storytelling and the sharing of stories on the place, through the use of platforms and social networks allowed to make more people to know about the value of it and create a critical mass changing the stereotypes built around it

1. With great request, AHEAD is going to involve an other group of 15 people in Italy

2. The app and the platforms are going to be used for an Intergenerational course in the primary schools

3. Local Associations have been awarded with tablets, to continue to tell and share stories

4. Ahead is going to be part of a research project in the Baltic area

5. Planning Ahead II building from the results and lesson learnt from this project

Plans for the future: GOING AHEAD

Thanks for the attentionBarbara Di Pietro

[email protected]

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