From internet users to digital citizens – WS 06 2017

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7 June 2017 | 11:00 - 12:30 | Ballroom III, Swissotel, Tallinn, Estonia | remote participation | live streaming
Programme overview wiki | Programme overview EuroDIG web site

Session teaser

The Internet’s role as a means of providing people access to information is clear. But the realisation of its full potential as a driver of creativity, innovation and community building will require people who are competent, confident and able to engage in the information society. The digital literacy skills needed go beyond digital literacy today means more than just the mastering of basic ICT user skills. Users need are expected to understand how to protect themselves from cybercrime, manage their privacy and create Internet content in order to feel ready and able to get involved. How do we increase and deepen digital literacy in our communities – should it be government-led, private sector supported, or bottom-up through community initiatives, or a mixture?

Keywords

Digital literacy, e-skills, education, training, capacity building, cybersafety, privacy

Session description

Participation in economic, civic and social life is increasingly dependent on digital skills. They have digital skills have become a prerequisite in many areas of the constantly evolving job market in Europe. A certain level of digital literacy is also required to benefit from different online services (both private and public) and the social opportunities provided by the Internet.

Yet, there is a significant gap between the existing skills levels and the demand in the market. Having access to the Internet doesn’t automatically give the competence and confidence to use it fully. Realising the potential of the Internet as a driver of creativity, collaboration, innovation and change will require us to fill this gap. Empowered with a wide set of skills digital citizens develop resilience and awareness in digital landscapes: they know own digital rights and responsibilities, value personal privacy, they are active and resilient to authoritative governments, who may make attempts to restrict their fundamental freedoms (freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, etc.).

There is also a growing social and economic gap between those with up-to-date digital skills and those without. The lack of digital skills, and hence access to information and services, can further marginalise disadvantaged and remote communities. Educational strategies can play a key role in levelling this divide from an early stage.

Traditional definitions of digital literacy mainly refer to basic ICT user skills. This is no longer sufficient in today’s Internet environment. Digitally savvy citizens understand and embrace tools to protect their safety and privacy online, and they know how to use, create and share online content in a responsible manner. Action is required at all levels of society through government, private sector, and bottom-up community initiatives.

The objective of this workshop is to discuss what digital literacy means in today’s Internet environment and how can we upgrade the existing skillsets to correspond to the new reality? We will also examine successful examples of digital literacy initiatives and debate the best digital skills strategies at community level.

Format

This workshop will feature key participants, who will share their insights on the topic to kick off the discussion. Following the introductory part, the two moderators will facilitate an interactive discussion with the audience.

Further reading

Until 30 April 2017. Links to relevant websites, declarations, books, documents. Please note we cannot offer web space, so only links to external resources are possible. Example for an external link: Main page of EuroDIG

People

Focal Point:

  • Maarit Palovirta, Internet Society

Subject Matter Expert:

  • Olivier Crepin Leblond (EURALO)

KEY PARTICIPANTS:

  • Kristel Rillo, Digital Skills and Lifelong Learning, Estonian Ministry of Education and Research

Biography: to be added

  • Clara Sommier, Public Policy, Google

Biography: to be added

  • Vitor Tome, Educational Policy Division, Council of Europe

Biography: Vitor Tomé, PhD in Education, professional journalist, in-service teacher trainer and researcher (Algarve University, Portugal), is a member of Council of Europe’s Digital Citizenship working group. He is working with COST Action - The Digital Literacy and Multimodal Practices of Young Children (Digilitey), and coordinates the ongoing project “Digital Citizenship Education and Democratic Participation” (Odivelas, Lisbon area, Portugal).

  • Stephen Wyber, Policy & Advocacy, International Federation of Library Associations

Biography: Stephen is responsible for IFLA’s work to promote the values and priorities of libraries in policy discussions, and ensure that they have the laws and resources necessary to realise their potential. In the Internet Governance field, IFLA argues that libraries will not only play an essential role in bringing the rest of the world population online, but can also help provide the skills necessary to create empowered digital citizens. This, in the context of an open Internet with protections against undue invasion of privacy and discriminatory controls on access, is the recipe for realising the potential of the Web.

MODERATORS:

  • Narine Khachatryan, Safer Internet Armenia

Biography: Narine is co-ordinator of Safer Internet Armenia, a country wide initiative to raise public awareness about Internet safety, privacy and security issues and build the capacity of young people and adults in the field of ICTs and digital citizenship. She has played an important role in launching a number of educational initiatives in Armenia, including those in the field of media and digital literacy. Ms Khachatryan has been actively involved in Internet governance debates since 2010 through participation in the European Dialog on Internet Governance, ICANN, Internet related projects of the Council of Europe and ISOC. She is currently co-organises a program on Internet Governance and Human Rights in Armenia.

  • Oliana Sula, University of Durres Albania

Biography: Oliana Sula is a lecturer and researcher at the Department of Management, Faculty of Business, University "Aleksandër Moisiu" Durrës, Albania and doctoral student at Estonian Business School, Tallinn, Estonia. Her research focuses in social media, ethics,digital literacy, cybersecurity education and entrepreneurship focusing more in Eastern Europe, Latin America and MENA region.

Remote Moderator

  • TBD

Organising Team (Org Team):

  • Stephen Wyber, International Federation of Library Associations
  • Oliana Sula, Durres University
  • Narine Khachatryan, Armenia
  • Ucha Seturi, Small and Medium Telecom Operator's Association of Georgia
  • Fotjon Kosta, Albania
  • Marina Sokolova, Belarus
  • Mikhail Doroshevich, e-Baltic Initiative

Reporter

  • Tessel Renzenbrink, Dutch ISOC Chapter

Biography: Tessel Renzenbrink is a freelance writer with a focus on the impact of technology on society. She is especially interested in information technology and the transition to a low carbon energy system. She’s a board member of the Dutch chapter of the Internet Society and studied Philosophy at the University of Amsterdam.

Current discussion, conference calls, schedules and minutes

See the discussion tab on the upper left side of this page.

Contact

Get in contact with the Org Team by sending an email.

Video record

Will be provided here after the event.

Transcript

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Messages

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