SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
Nowadays, E-learning has evolved into an ideal tool to disseminate knowledge effectively and to promote a universally and socially constructed understanding. E-learning ensures equal opportunities for young volunteers and further development of their skills throughout their ESC project. It is also the way to involve them in an accessible process of continuous learning to improve their skills, to optimize their role in the host community and to find a career path.
In addition, online learning can be an effective and sustainable educational tool supporting volunteer tutors and supervisors. For these reasons, in 2018, we created an online platform (https://e-esc.eu/) in the context of KA1 Erasmus+ (3 mobility for youth educators). This platform attracted the interest of more than 800 volunteers who benefited from this tool. It continues to be co-managed by us and our Greek and Romanian partners. In order to continue to meet the needs of young volunteers of different capacities in terms of training, assistance, E-tutoring & networking, as well as the priorities of the European Solidarity Corps program, we would like to update this platform.
This strategic project will further improve and structure the content of the platform, modernize and simplify learning methods and facilitate the networking of young volunteers. The access to dynamic online training will also be facilitated by involving experienced partners in volunteering actions and the creation of tools for volunteers.
AIMS OF OUR PROJECT
The main objective of our project is to promote the adoption of innovative practices by youth workers linked to ESC volunteers, by developing collaborative and accessible learning approaches for all young beneficiaries of European Solidarity Corps projects.
Our operational objectives are to:
– Improve the structure, adapt, update and promote the content of our e-esc.eu platform and ensure its sustainability so that it can better meet the needs development of beneficiaries (European volunteers & local and host organizations) and facilitating access to mobility and non-formal learning for young people.
– Develop the ICT and pedagogical skills of 15 e-tutors in support of distance learning for European and non-European volunteers, beneficiaries of our platform, including those with fewer opportunities.
– Develop and recognize the skills of European and non-European volunteers, including those with less opportunity to ensure quality of ESC projects and to encourage active citizenship.
– Promote dialogue between volunteers with their peers, youth workers, host organizations and resource people from different countries to improve voluntary initiatives, as well as their impact and visibility.
– Exchange fruitful experiences and practices between volunteers and promoters of volunteering projects.
EXPECTED RESULTS
• An adapted and improved Moodle platform that offers interactive online training to meet the needs of ESC youth volunteers (evaluated from our surveys at the start of the project).
• Results of two surveys on the needs of volunteers, hosting and supporting organizations as well.
• 20 E-learning courses restructured & improved according to the 3M learning concept to facilitate autonomous online learning (based on survey results).
• 10 new E-trainings created to meet the needs of volunteers and develop specific skills.
• 30 tutorial videos for training courses follow-up.
• A geo-location map (GIS – geographical information system) of ESC volunteer projects by the partner countries, as an innovative tool to support volunteers and visibility of their projects.
• An improved user guide for ESC youth volunteers.
• A technical and educational guide for ESC e-tutors.
• A promotional video of the platform.
• Improvement of training offer and resources for remote support of volunteers. 2 trainings will be held for 15 e-tutors to improve their online mentoring skills.
• Promoting cultural diversity and methodological approaches through transnational partnerships.
• Awareness of the issues and interests of distance learning in the context of non-formal education, at dissemination events organized by each partner.