The project aimed to develop an open platform for a curriculum of free online training on how to use the internet and access digital library and public services for remote users of an older age, that are digitally under skilled and feel excluded. These aims are line with the objectives set by the European Commission Council Recommendation on ADULT Education and Training (ADU) (2020). The project aimed to: Support the improvement of digital education in order to meet the challenges arising from the external shocks of the COVID-19 crisis in the shorter term (The Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027); Enhance digital andragogy and expertise for adult trainers and digital literacy (The Digital Education Action Plan 2021- 2027); Foster trainers capacity to use digital tools and content, test and promote blended learning (The Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027); Support older people to develop the digital skills needed to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the green and digital transitions (The European Skills Agenda 2020); Support adult learning across all environments for social inclusion, active citizenship and personal development beyond working life (The European Skills Agenda 2020).
We applied for this project with the aim of fostering the rights of individuals of older age to access information and lifelong learning and enjoy the right of participation in everyday society as independent citizens, through digitally active ageing. DSSI set out to empower older people to make full use of the fantastic range of services available online and receive the full benefit of inclusion. In addition, DSSI aimed to help senior learners become confident to independently use a range of digital, public, and commercial services. Through the development & implementation of a highly innovative curriculum of free online training on how to use the internet and access digital library and public services for remote users of an older age, the project has addressed the needs of older people who feel digitally under skilled and feel left out. During the project, adult educators and library staff took part in training, to support them in providing online e- courses to senior learners in their area. DSSI also designed, developed and managed the freely available DSSI Online Platform, a highly innovative flexible online environment for the uploading and making available of training materials featuring 6 online modules.