The Future of Education
Empowering Children, Adults and Communities on Privacy, Safe and Responsible use of Digital Technologies with the Happy Onlife Toolkit
Monica Gemo, European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC) (Italy)
Rosanna Di Gioia, European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC) (Italy)
Stephane Chaudron, European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC) (Italy)
Ignacio Sanchez, European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC) (Italy)
Abstract
Since 2011 JRC researchers have been investigating the risks and opportunities to children in the digital age, including the cyberbullying phenomenon. Research results highlighted the need for empowering educational tools for children, teachers, parents and communities providing more information, mediation and digital skills development. JRC researchers have produced and tested materials to raise awareness and trust, and to empower children, families and schools in the attempt to promote a safe and healthy life online, including the prevention of cyberbullying amongst teens. This material has been integrated in the Happy Onlife (HOL) toolkit based on infield testing on Digital Safety in local communities.
The HOL toolkit includes a project booklet with a collection of 17 educational activities promoting digital competence development and shared experiences of the digital world among teachers, parents and children between 8 and 12 years old. It contains a board game inspired by the traditional ‘Snakes and Ladder’ game. The toolkit activities and the game quiz questions are designed to prompt discussion and allow the moderator to drive the actors towards a responsible and safe way of using digital media. The toolkit is available both as paper version (in English and Italian) and online application on mobile and web platforms in five languages, namely French, English, Flemish, Italian and Spanish.
The present work reports on initial adoption indicators illustrating the widespread dissemination of the toolkit (i.e. covering all set of transmedia resources ranging from the paper kit, to embodied tangible format and finally to digital versions). The 2015 adoption results are encouraging with around 1000 kits freely distributed in 16 Italian regions and more than 1000 world wide downloads of its free application from three mobile stores. HOL toolkit opens a path to empower teachers and parents in actively guiding children to become smarter, responsible and respectful when using digital media and help them understand the consequences behind the decisions they make online regarding Privacy and Digital Safety and Ethics.
