TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Aleksandr Post
The primary goal of the "Social Video Makers" training course was to teach youth workers and leaders the practical skills needed to shoot, edit, and distribute online videos effectively. It aimed to empower them to collaborate with young people in creating online video content carrying strong social messages, promoting European values like equity, social cohesion, and active citizenship. A secondary aim was to help youth workers understand the modern media landscape, how young people interact with technology, and issues like "fake news".
The project addressed the need for youth workers and leaders to possess practical digital video production skills to effectively engage youth and guide them in creating impactful online content for social change. It also addressed the need for youth workers to understand the contemporary media environment young people navigate.
The training course equipped youth workers and leaders from participating organisations with relevant, up-to-date skills in video production and media literacy, enhancing their capacity to implement innovative youth work projects, promote European values, and engage young people through popular digital mediums.
The target group was 31 youth workers, youth leaders, and active members of youth organizations, mainly aged between 18 and 40. Participants were expected to be able to work in English, be active learners available for the full course duration, motivated to participate actively, and willing to share their new knowledge as multipliers within their organisations and communities.
The training course involved participants from 13 countries: Germany, France, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria, Italy, Estonia, Spain, Lithuania, Northern Macedonia, Finland, Greece, and Latvia.
The training course utilized non-formal education methods with a strong emphasis on practical, hands-on learning. Based on the timetable, methods included:
- Technical sessions combined with practice (e.g., on video shooting, editing, sound, music).
- Creative workshops (idea generation, scenario/storyboard creation).
- Teamwork and collaborative project work (forming teams, dividing tasks, planning, filming, post-production).
- Practical application (dedicated filming day, editing sessions).
- Interactive sessions (Getting to know each other, team bonding, energizers, "Who wants to be a millionaire?" game for Erasmus+/Youthpass).
- Presentations (e.g., presenting final social video shorts and related social media).
- Reflection and Evaluation (Daily Reflection Time, final evaluation).
- Intercultural learning (implied through Cultural Evenings).
The programme was structured around learning by doing, with participants actively involved in the entire video creation process from idea generation to final presentation and promotion strategies.
The training course aimed for participants (youth workers/leaders) to achieve:
- Practical skills in shooting, editing, and distributing online videos.
- Knowledge and ability to guide young people in creating online video projects with strong social messages that promote European values.
- Understanding of the contemporary media landscape, youth technology interaction, and mechanisms of "fake news".
- Competences related to teamwork, project planning, creative content creation, and social media promotion.
- Enhanced ability to act as multipliers, sharing knowledge within their home organizations.
- Increased awareness of Erasmus+ and Youthpass.
Success could be assessed through:
- The creation and presentation of social video shorts and accompanying social media promotion plans by participant teams.
- Participant engagement and feedback gathered during daily Reflection Time and the final evaluation session.
- Observation of participants' skills development throughout the practical video-making process.
- Participants' demonstrated understanding of media concepts and their commitment to act as multipliers post-course.
- Recognition of acquired competences through the Youthpass process.
- Conducting sessions on the technical aspects of video production, including camera operation/shooting techniques, video editing software/rules, sound recording, and music selection.
- Facilitating workshops on idea generation for social videos, developing scenarios and storyboards, and planning the video production process.
- Supervising and supporting participants during practical filming and post-production/editing sessions, offering guidance and troubleshooting assistance.
- Delivering sessions on related topics such as using social media for promoting social films, understanding the media landscape, and potentially addressing "fake news" (as per project goals).
- Facilitating team formation, task division, and collaborative work throughout the video creation process.
- Leading introductory activities, team bonding, energizers, introducing Erasmus+ and Youthpass, facilitating daily reflection and final evaluation sessions.