Based on research among children from excluded localities, socio-economically disadvantaged adults and seniors, we have created 50 practical ideas for bridging the digital divide. All are freely available for your use - just choose the right step towards your goals!
The proposal is a digital platform that would offer methodological documents and educational materials for the organization of a digital club for seniors at the local level. Local non-profits, libraries, residential facilities, etc. would be responsible for individual clubs. The model is based on peer-to-peer learning (seniors to seniors).
The outputs could be feasible in practice if the project targeted younger seniors who already have some experience with digital devices.
"The idea is particularly suitable for younger and active seniors."
Nonprofit staff worry that seniors do not yet have the digital skills to participate in a club like this and that the lack of technology will make it difficult for local organizations to get involved. They agree that the solution is particularly appropriate for younger seniors or for use in the future.
Materials that reach children naturally through friends or the personalities and influencers they follow on networks could also help them with digital competence. The purpose of this solution is to prepare materials that can spread themselves through viral content. First of all, it should be about:
It's very easy to succumb to the impression of safety and closeness on social media. To help children understand how publicly available personal data is, a simple app can show them who is looking at their profiles or posts and what they can find out about them.
Many children and teenagers at risk of digital exclusion use their phone as a shared device with siblings or parents. To maintain privacy and protect the digital identity of a particular user, an app that recognises the user by password, fingerprint or face and displays their own settings and apps can help.
Similarly, logging into your own profile on your computer works well and can be an inspiration when creating an app.
Imagine an online marketplace where vendors offer digital education services to nonprofits. On one digital platform, nonprofits targeting clients* at risk of digital exclusion (such as seniors, children and adults from excluded locations, or people with disabilities) could meet people and organizations that are able to transfer digital skills and teach others how to use technology.
In the evaluation of the non-profits, there was a particular interest in linking the marketplace with digital literacy courses, which are essential to understanding the service. Non-profits would also appreciate a focus of content on practical issues in the lives of their clients, such as study, work, finances, tutorials on how to get emergency accommodation or guides for people with lower cognitive abilities on how to apply for emergency benefits, for example. Many clients would benefit from being able to contact a real person.
"It would be beneficial if I could teach selected seniors how to navigate the online marketplace on their own."
Nonprofits agreed that a risk of the marketplace could be demand greatly exceeding supply or focusing on topics that are not relevant to their clients, are too complex, or do not fit their life situation (imagine offering a computer course when you and your children are looking for emergency housing). The structure of the app or website could also be an obstacle, so care needs to be taken to ensure that the app or website is intuitive to use and that the information is presented in a way that is easy to understand.
The chat communities that children use (e.g. Discord or Twitch) are not only a place to stream games or chat about school, but also an opportunity to create chat communities around digital topics. In an environment that is increasingly natural to children, it is possible to build a community to mentor them on digital issues, education or problem solving.
Digitally excluded people interested in active participation can be helped by a project that would distribute a mobile device in exchange for volunteering or part-time work that can be done with it (video editing, photography, research, etc.).
Where schools lack specific 'on the ground' knowledge of children's digital exclusion, non-profits can help schools better understand the needs of their digitally excluded clients. Schools can in turn offer their know-how and background in IT. Linking schools and the non-profit sector can bring concrete improvements in children's technical and knowledge capabilities.
The reaction to the short-sighted judgements and the wide depths of digital discussions may be a handbook How to be IN on the networks. A compendium of recommendations and basic concepts as well as tips on what and how works on the web, social media and in discussions could serve adults and digitally active seniors.
Educational videos can be a simple, quick and effective way to train digital skills for children at risk of digital exclusion.
Nonprofits that see the need for their clients to avoid digital exclusion can organize a support group where people can not only learn how to work with digital devices, but also share practices, guidelines, advice and insights together. The groups should be facilitated by trained professionals who would give direction to the meetings or help with specific problems.
Even for educators, the issue of digital exclusion can be difficult to grasp in the flood of other responsibilities, and some may lack awareness of how to work with digitally excluded children. For teachers (and not only computer science) it would be useful to prepare a website with downloadable materials, webinars, links to NGOs or companies that can help with education or material support.
One option to address digital exclusion can be volunteers on the phone who can help solve a specific problem with a digital device, service or solution. Expert volunteers from Česko.Digital and non-profit organisations can get involved.
For those who do not have access to the internet or do not know how to use a data box, communicate with the authorities or solve their life situations via the internet, digital assistance centres can help. They are ideally located in commonly accessible public places such as libraries or offices. They should include assistance from a trained worker.
How and where to start with the education of digitally excluded minorities and how to know the level of their existing knowledge? An initial digital skills test can help to understand what tools and principles they already know. Based on the results of the test, the app will assess the level of knowledge and offer educational content specifically for that level.
Parents of school-age children are now routinely required to be online and able to use school apps or digital tools to communicate with the school. Digitally excluded parents can be assisted by non-profit organisations or volunteers who can help with setting up or operating a school app or communicating digitally with the school.
For those who are not naturally comfortable navigating the internet or digital devices, a traditional printed guidebook can help them flip through it, read it, and physically hold it in their hands. The ideal places for distribution are then places where people with digital exclusion go for advice or to address their needs (library, office, low-threshold centre, etc.).
For finding a job, for communicating with friends, with the authorities, for reading the daily news. A mobile or field station with an internet connection, free wi-fi, a mobile phone charger or a computer connected to the internet can serve homeless people for exactly these tasks.
For an in-depth exploration of digital topics, a weekend experiential course, camp or suburban camp is an appropriate form of teaching basic skills and knowledge of working with digital devices based on the principles of experiential pedagogy.
In broader groups of digitally excluded populations, one option for a solution would be to use the parent-child bond. By being able to work with existing parent-child projects, adults in the home can help children improve their digital competences.
The socially disadvantaged are a frequent target of fraudsters and our research shows that some people with lower digital skills, but who are actively using digital devices, have already resigned themselves to any kind of defence. They need to be given the confidence that they can prevent such situations and defend themselves if necessary. The combination of an awareness campaign and a training app, will allow clients to try out potentially risky situations.
In order not to have to build an audience for digital competence learning tools, it is suggested to use already existing services or applications. Modules or functions for the development of digital skills can be created directly in their environment.
During the preparation of the project, the principle of a mobile application based on artificial intelligence, which would be a mentor and friend for children, adults and seniors, often appeared in the proposed solutions. While it would be different for each target group, the basis remains the same: using chat to advise on a specific problem. However, there would also be a live human/operator/non-profit worker in the background who would automatically receive more complex questions or who a person could turn to if they were unsure of an AI-generated answer.
A digital game in which the protagonist represents a child from a socially excluded community. Through the performance of the hero's tasks, the client acquires digital competences and information about internet safety, digital identity, etc.
We recommend basing the situations in the game on realistic stories from socially excluded communities so that these children can actually find themselves in the game.
The first guide to digital solutions can be a digital signpost, which will be accessible to children, adults and seniors. It is a website or app with structured content adapted to the needs of digitally excluded people.
The first guide to digital solutions can be a digital signpost, which will be accessible to children, adults and seniors. It is a website or app with structured content adapted to the needs of digitally excluded people.
A simple educational app based on similar principles to the Duolingo language app. Using questions, answers and training, it can help seniors with practical life situations (e.g. how to find a specialist doctor).
Buddy is a common role in universities, most often as a guide for international students or freshmen. For children, minorities or seniors, they may be digital "buddies" who expertly guide them through the basics of working with digital devices, individually or in a group.
If influencers can exist in the fields of fashion or gaming, they can also exist as ambassadors of digital competence. Content that encourages recipients to become more digitally competent or to be careful when working with online devices can intersperse the regular topics they cover.
Digital exclusion also results from the unavailability of digital devices. Companies or government institutions can support their distribution to senior citizens' homes and residential facilities, low-threshold centres or as stationary equipment in hostels. They can also work with decommissioned devices in good condition.
The closest relatives can often be the most important influencers. A simple campaign should motivate children, teenagers and adults to engage with their parents and grandparents and use simple techniques to master basic digital devices together.
This solution was inspired by the popularity of chain mails. Their principle could be used to distribute newsletters with "micro-learnings" content (videos, texts, infographics, audio recordings, etc.) that would help seniors to navigate the use of digital tools, the basics of internet safety and other topics.
An app or extension that allows you to check the trustworthiness of messages could help seniors (and not only seniors) know which messages to trust and which to avoid.
I wonder if your mom or grandma knows that over the internet is free? And that it can include a video call? And that she can cook or knit on it? This solution is an awareness campaign that will help seniors with internet calling, save them money and increase digital literacy.
Trying out using a tablet or other digital device can be a start for seniors to get their own digital device and expand their digital skills. The solution therefore works with the idea of a "travelling tablet" that would be available to clients of residential facilities, which clients of the facilities could borrow from each other after a certain number of days.
How will seniors cope with digital challenges? They can practice in a safe app that guides them to fun challenges that develop them. Can Grandpa cope with buying a seat ticket online? Can Grandma manage to swap Grandpa and Grandson's faces in a photo?
The solution proposes to create a social network for seniors where they can feel safe. In principle, it should be mainly about the possibility of chatting and sending files and photos, or finding new friends, partners or partners for specific activities.
Even staff at non-profits or residential facilities for the elderly are often unaware that there are a variety of assistive tools and compensatory aids for using digital devices. Solutions suggests an app or campaign to help spread awareness of their existence.
Gamification through social and social games can also be part of digital skills acquisition for seniors to help educate seniors in digital.
Educational group meetings can also expand digital skills, depending on the age and situation of the clients. In six-month courses, clients could gradually learn to use the relevant devices. After completing the course, they could take ownership of the equipment.
A digital buddy could be accessible from a phone or computer in the form of a simple chatbot that can answer common questions (related to digital services or general digital knowledge) from social services staff or their clients.
If the chatbot itself was unable to answer, they could solve the question or problem with the help of volunteers. Supervision of these volunteers would then be an essential part of the service.
NGOs should be able to show off successful projects. They can, for example, compare their successes in the area of digital inclusion of clients, or inspire each other.
A special award can be hardware for the organization's activities (for clients / office), free workshops and other support in their activities and digitalization.
A web/mobile platform where NGOs and government bodies can share their know-how, materials, client work, research, etc. with other NGOs. Through this platform, nonprofits share how they develop the digital skills of their clients. The platform includes a marketplace of digital development services that nonprofits can provide to each other. It is possible to keep track of news.
Helping nonprofits raise money for digital projects. Either directly free up their administrative capacity or provide them with know-how and tips on how to be more successful in applying for funding. On the other hand, lobbying grant and subsidy providers for more support for digital projects of non-profit organisations.
Lack of funding is a common obstacle for non-profit organizations. Dedicated assistance in this area would free their hands and help them get moving.
It is natural for children (not only) from excluded localities to have a phone in their hand practically all day long. But can they spend time on it productively? An app with digital challenges can help to create habits useful for education or future careers through attractive tasks and challenges. Challenges can motivate activity or learning new skills and knowledge. Nonprofits can follow up with real-world challenges. An attractive format for the app is offered, complemented by challenges from specific influencers or personalities.
Experienced nonprofit staff say the app should educate children and be scalable based on their age and needs. It should work with interactive games, training videos, programming and challenges that benefit children's real lives.
"Digital challenges have to be made interesting and really draw kids into the story."
According to the NGOs, the app would have to be well-designed enough to really engage children. Nonprofits don't have a good track record of trying to get too close to children's behavior or slang. Most of the time, these efforts don't work as well as they need to, and instead are counterproductive. At the same time, nonprofits worry that fighting mobile addiction with a mobile app doesn't make sense.
In places where other temporary jobs are hard to find, it makes sense to offer young people temporary jobs that they can do via tablet or computer. The purpose of such jobs is to connect sponsors who need small digital activities (such as transcribing texts, editing videos, adding images to the e-shop, etc.) with teenagers and to help these young people learn work habits and take responsibility for their work. However, the jobs must be carefully moderated and supervised. A secondary motivation is to get socially excluded children off the streets and into low-income centres, libraries and non-profits and encourage them to engage in beneficial activities (education, sports, volunteering).
The NGOs agree that such a project would be time-consuming to implement and that it is not entirely realistic. It would therefore be necessary to support the benefits of the project with real world examples and statistics. At the same time, it would be necessary to link the project with trustworthy companies that children need not be afraid to turn to.
⭐ This solution is still one of the most popular in surveys among NGOs. It also offers connections with IT companies that can start to train future interns or search for talent.
"It would be discouraging if the app didn't offer enough part-time jobs."
According to the NGO workers, the problem could be the lack of supply of temporary jobs, the fact that employers assign menial jobs to children, or the difficult availability of technology for children.
It would also be difficult to arrange the administration of the whole service. The brigades would have to be arranged as a FTE/PPP signed between the brigade and the company. Further, there may be a barrier on the teenagers' side where the family does not want to allow family members to legally increase their income as this would affect the household income calculation and risk the whole household losing some benefits.
A simple web-based platform will offer seniors the opportunity to volunteer in digital projects. Tasks will be divided according to difficulty level so that both seniors with higher level digital skills and beginners can find their way. Support will be available in the form of tutorials or an expert to help them master the tasks. The aim is to expand the digital competence of seniors in an activating way.
The nonprofits think it's a great idea, especially if it would be possible to build a digital community and a safe community for seniors at the same time. They also think it is a great opportunity for IT companies to build beneficial CSR projects.
"If they would be willing to help us with photo editing or language correction, we would be happy to." (response from a worker from an NGO)
According to the NGO workers, the problem could be a lack of supply of temporary jobs, the fact that employers lack experience working with seniors, or that they outsource uninteresting and menial jobs.
This would be a starter digital package (an app or series of apps) that would make it easier for adults (e.g. homeless people) to use digital tools. The research conducted shows that there is a high demand for new or refurbished devices among people in need. These devices can form an important bridge for their integration into society or working life, and an app or starter pack should help them get to grips with a new device.
In addition to the classic applications that are commonly used, it would be great to help clients in difficult life situations and teach them how to use applications such as Citizen Portal, Safezón, etc. But for most nonprofits, teaching clients how to work with technology is essential, and installing an app package is more of a secondary consideration.
"We also recommend training selected staff to teach clients how to use the digital equipment."
The need to update digital devices and deliver new ones, the complex handover process or the complexity of the applications themselves.
An educational programme that brings digital technology directly into the classroom. The workshop takes place in a variety of subjects such as art, PE or computer science and builds on group projects where pupils creatively solve tasks using digital tools. The aim is to show that technology can be an interesting tool for exploring topics that children enjoy. In a safe environment, pupils can try experimenting with technology.
Example: Pupils are given the task of finding information about a person or topic, with one group looking for arguments for and the other against. They then compare the results and learn to search from multiple sources.
This idea was created by the participants of Maker Faire Brno 2024 on the basis of Digital Profiles.
Inspiration can come from similar educational projects such as "One World in Schools", which focuses on artificial intelligence and media education.
An online signpost to guide seniors through the world of digital technology. It includes easy-to-understand instructional videos, simple tutorials and invitations to events relevant to them. The signpost could be promoted, for example, in libraries that are accessible to older people. It could also be linked to live training and discussions, meeting other seniors and sharing experiences of the digital world.
How can such a signpost help?
The signpost offers clearly organised information to help seniors navigate the digital world and find answers to their questions without unnecessary chaos.
This idea was created by the participants of Maker Faire Brno 2024 on the basis of Digital Profiles.
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We hope that the profiles created will be a valuable source of information for the creation of services aimed at increasing digital literacy. We anticipate that non-profit organisations, government and independent design teams could benefit from them. At the same time, the profiles can serve social and outreach workers to better understand the digital needs of their clients.Other possible uses: writing applications for funding (grants), designing courses and continuing education, developing digital services for commercial companies, etc.
You can connect with the Digital Inclusion team on the Discuss.Digital forum and give us feedback on our work. If you want to help and have an idea or implementation team, you can consult our expert community there for your next steps.
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