MIND THE GAP primary focus was to enhance the quality of adult training in terms of digital skills, exploiting the potential of digital learning and providing digital migrants with core digital skills to support them in social, citizenship, personal and daily needs through the digital environment. The overall objectives were upskill Adult Educators to provide support and guidance to boost the quality of lives of Digital Migrants, to prepare an environment for a better social inclusion through digital tools, and to navigate pathways for engaging in active citizenship; targeting informational and communicational digital competences of citizens on the basis of the DigComp. The project provides Adult Educators with innovative and practical solutions facilitating them with core digital and educational methods and modules to upskill digital migrants, helping them to keep psychologically healthy and sociologically active through digital tools. To do so, the project set a framework for contemporary digital skills, developed new learning contents and methods, provided an e-learning platform including digital-ed modules and webinars as maps to help digital migrants become active participants in digital environment.
Digital literacy and competences are vital nowadays for individuals affecting all areas of life intensely. Social life, personal development and safety, active engagement in citizenship have been changing interdependently with contemporary progresses. As younger generation assigns their path through digital instruments with ease, the so-called “Digital Migrants” (individuals over 55 year old) often lose their route to follow-up with the rapid changes. They are mostly in need of assistance with fundamental digital tasks: creating a digital identity, browsing/sharing information, arranging a doctor appointment, social interaction or checking bank accounts. This process has led to health problems, social isolation, flaw in daily routines and engaging in active citizenship, and COVID 19 situation have proved that there is a need for immediate action on the matter. In line with the Digital Education Action Plan, MIND THE GAP project took advantage of digital tools in adult teaching to provide adult-learning providers with flexible and learner-centered training strategies and contents, in order to help digital migrants to personally engage in society as an active citizen, use public services and exercise basic rights.