With this project, Youth Garage e.V. has expected to fulfill the needs of our members for professional development and capacity building. By implementing this project we have managed to: - ENRICH PARTICIPNATS' KNOWLEDGE IN THE FIELD OF ICT AND ROBOTICS (participants learned about basics of coding in Python to program an Edison robot and Lego Mindstorm robots, coded and piloted a Ryze Tello drone, used new virtual work tools - Miro boards, Mentimeter, tools like Asana, Slack, Discord, etc.); - SHARPEN INVOLVED EDUCATORS' TEACHING METHODS FOR ICT EDUCATION (e.g. Moodle, Big Blue Button, giving digital workshops in Zoom Breakout Rooms, using Tutor LMS plug-in for creating own e-learning environments, etc); - IMPROVE OUR MEMBERS' INTERCULTURAL AND LANGUAGE SKILLS (both trainings were conducted in English, thus making the participants practice another European language and explore Cyprus culture); - STRENGTHEN OUR INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL NETWORK (through this collaboration possibility, Youth Garage e.V. has gained credibility in the eyes of the partner organisation - Emphasys Centre - to bring in adult educators who can gain new competencies during the mobilities; after the dissemination, we got new requests for similar learning).
Adult learning is of significant importance to European Commission's lifelong learning policy. 85% of all EU jobs need at least a basic digital skills level, according to the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training. Europe is clearly unprepared for the evolution of a new digitalised economic reality. The existing skill mismatch, the COVID-19 pandemic with its mass destruction of jobs in many sectors, led to a significant decline in employment for individuals with lower qualifications and skills. Such a situation is especially relevant in Thuringia, where the lack of digital education stagnates the economy. At the same time, this leaves room for new opportunities, like re-learning. Youth Garage e.V. has managed to surround itself with the network of adult educators, who are freshly in the field or are learning to acquire new skill sets to work with marginalized adults, often out of employment. In meantime, a partner from Cyprus, Emphasys Centre, has offered a wide range of KA1 Adult Learning Courses. Thus, arose the idea to apply for two training courses, “Robotics for Educators” and “The RoboKIT”, which will provide professional training opportunities on how to teach digital skills.