Peer-learning Activity: Digital Inclusion and AI

The rapid development of emerging technologies such as AI presents opportunities and challenges for youth inclusion. While, due to different social and economic obstacles, technology can perpetuate existing inequalities, it also holds immense potential to personalize and adapt educational experiences, catering to diverse learning needs and styles. However, youth leaders often lack the knowledge and resources to harness this potential responsibly and effectively.  

This peer-learning activity is the first in a cycle of activities organised under the Strategic NA Co-operation on Digital Youth Work (SNAC DYW), a long-term Erasmus+ project on digital inclusion and diversity, aiming to advance digital youth work across Europe. It focuses on ensuring equal access to digital technologies and fostering inclusive environments for all young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds or with disabilities. 

Aims and Objectives: 

This Peer Learning Activity aims to address this gap by providing a unique space for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and project development, with focus on:  

• Understanding of AI and its impact on education: Explore the theoretical foundations and practical applications of AI in educational settings.  
• Sharing knowledge about inclusive AI-powered tools: Learning about and exploring existing AI tools and frameworks with a focus on their potential for promoting inclusion.  
• Understanding of good and inclusive practices (including the conditions that enabled the development of those practices)  
• Providing practical experience in designing and planning projects within Erasmus+/ESC that utilize emerging technologies to address the specific needs of young people facing exclusion in their communities.  
• Networking and partnership-building: Foster collaboration between youth organizations from different European countries to develop and implement joint projects 

Approach: 

• This Peer-Learning Activity will comprise interactive workshops, group work sessions and presentations based on non-formal education methods. Participants will have the opportunity to: 
• Learn from experts: Engage with AI researchers and practitioners who will introduce key concepts and share best practices.  
• Explore existing AI tools: Experiment with and critically assess different educational tools and platforms.  
• Build partnerships: Network with peers from across Europe to establish collaborations for project implementation.  
• Engage in peer learning: showcasing and exchanging different practices and learning from participants, experts and field visits.  
• Discuss common challenges and possible solutions to make activities using AI safer and more inclusive based on the presented practices and inputs. 

Who is this event for? 

We’re happy to welcome you if you have experience, expertise or a strong desire to learn and contribute to the main topic of the activity: “Digital inclusion and AI ”, in the framework of the EU Youth Programmes Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps. Ideally, if you identify yourself as belonging to one or more of the following groups:  

• Youth work practitioners able to showcase good practices using AI and are interested in networking, developing projects and getting inspiration.  
• Youth work practitioners working directly with young people with fewer opportunities, with some experience in digital tools, and willing to use AI to engage with their target groups. 

We especially invite people to apply that identify themselves as having a lived experience of inclusion and overcoming barriers. This could mean for example, but is not limited to, if you faced social, economic or geographic barriers, you are a single parent with a minority background, a young person living in an isolated, rural area, or a trans person going through the transition with lack of emotional support. This activity will not be possible without you in the room. 

Important: selected participants are expected to attend an online onboarding meeting on 16 April 2024, 10:00-12:00 CET. Please consider this when applying.

The hosting NA of this offer will organise the accommodation and covers the costs for accommodation and food.

Eastern Partnership countries, Erasmus+ Youth Programme countries, Southern Mediterranean countries, Western Balkan countries

English

This project is financed by the participating National Agencies (NAs) of the Erasmus+ Youth in Action Programme. The participation fee varies from country to country. Please contact your National Agency or SALTO Resource Centre (SALTO) to learn more about the participation fee for participants from your country.

Please contact your NA or SALTO in order to know whether they would support your travel costs. If yes, after being selected, get in touch with your NA or SALTO again to learn more about the overall procedure to arrange the booking of your travel tickets and the reimbursement of your travel expenses.