DIGITAL RURAL GAME project aimed to promote in low-skilled adults the acquisition of digital competences and other soft skills needed to eliminate the digital gap in rural areas in Europe. The expected results that we achieved were: - Identified the gaps and needs among low-skilled adults in rural areas in partner countries. - Developed an interactive online game to improve digital skills in low-skilled adults in rural areas. - Created a handbook for educators and low-skilled adults in rural areas for a correctly use of the game and improving digital skills in rural areas of Europe. In addition, with the achievement of the results described above (which are related to the intellectual products that will be developed during the execution of the project), we believe we have contributed to achieving the following challenges: - Reduce the digital gap in rural areas in Europe through gamification and non-formal and informal education - Promote lifelong learning in rural areas as a tool for socio-economic development and the fixing of the population of rural Europe emptied. The achievement of the objectives of the project will allow low-skilled adults to access the new jobs that digitalization will bring, minimizing the risks of long-term unemployed and helping to fix population in the most disadvantaged rural areas. To this end, the project has developed materials that support professionals in the field of adult education in search of employment or that seek to improve their employment status. These materials were based on the concept of "gamification", a learning technique that moves the mechanics of games to the educational-professional field in order to achieve better results, either to better absorb some knowledge, improve some skill, or reward specific actions, among many other objectives. This type of learning gains ground in training methodologies due to its playful nature, which facilitates the internalization of knowledge in a more fun way, generating a positive user experience. We have developed support materials for adult educators so that they can train digital skills and other soft skills through an online game of low-skilled people in rural areas, and we have contributed to promoting lifelong learning, raising awareness through the Project of the importance of continuing to be trained in spite of one's age.
The achievement of the objectives of the project would allow low-skilled adults to access the new jobs that digitalization will bring, minimizing the risks of long-term unemployed and helping to fix population in the most disadvantaged rural areas. To this end, the project aimed to develop materials that support professionals in the field of adult education in search of employment or that seek to improve their employment status, based on the concept of "gamification", a learning technique that moves the mechanics of games to the educational-professional field in order to achieve better results, either to better absorb some knowledge, improve some skill, or reward specific actions, among many other objectives. This type of learning gains ground in training methodologies due to its playful nature, which facilitates the internalization of knowledge in a more fun way, generating a positive user experience. As a result of the development of the methodology proposed, the participating entities would have at their disposal an Online Game where they find support to offer a new service to the low-skilled adults in rural areas, bridging the digital divide and contributing to improve the employment opportunities of this group.
The European Employment Strategy (EES) includes a series of measures to help people find / stay (in) work, encourage lifelong learning and improve support for finding a job. One of its main objectives is to achieve that 75% of the population between 20 and 64 years old will be employed in 2020. DIGITAL RURAL GAME project aims to promote in low-skilled adults the acquisition of digital competences and other soft skills needed to eliminate the digital gap in rural areas in Europe. The achievement of the objectives of the project will allow low-skilled adults to access the new jobs that digitalization will bring, minimizing the risks of long-term unemployed and helping to fix population in the most disadvantaged rural areas. Additionally, the project also aligns with the Digital Agenda for Europe, that wanted to maximize "the growth potential of the digital economy, by promoting digital skills". Promoting the development of digital skills among low-skilled adults is not only necessary for this group to remain active throughout their lives, but it is vital to prevent the digital GAP that would generate high unemployment rates and a massive depopulation in rural areas in Europe.