TOY - Trainers Online for Youth
This is a reference for Fabio Meazza
"Youth Work 5.0 - Empower Youth with Digital Tools" was a training course designed to bridge the digital divide between youth workers and the young people they support. Recognizing the rapid evolution of digital landscapes, the course aimed to equip youth workers with the latest knowledge and skills in leveraging digital tools and artificial intelligence in youth work.
Objectives:
- To learn about current digital tools and technology trends relevant to youth work.
- To gain practical skills in incorporating Digital tools and AI into daily youth work.
- To encourage critical thinking on the ethical considerations of AI and digital tool usage in youth work.
By addressing these goals, the training aimed to make youth work more effective, inclusive, and engaging, ensuring youth workers could keep pace with technological advancements and meet the needs of the digital generation.
The training program was delivered by a team of four trainers, participants of Salto's Training of Trainers 2023/24, and representing the national agencies of Austria, Iceland, Slovenia, and Spain. This configuration ensured a diverse range of expertise and perspectives were brought to the training, reflecting the program's international scope.
The course was attended by 23 participants, selected for their roles in youth work. This group included professionals such as youth workers, educators, and social workers, all of whom were engaged in educational roles or in managing youth-focused activities. Participants were required to have a basic understanding of technical tools and to be fluent in English, facilitating effective engagement with the training content.
The methodology was crafted to maximize engagement and practical learning. The course was structured around a hands-on, learning-by-doing approach; key components included simulation exercises, workshops, and informative sessions, all designed to immerse participants fully in the experience. This setup allowed for active participation in hands-on sessions, where learners could directly apply digital tools such as Actionbound, Canva, Padlet, Instagram, Kahoot, Asana, Slack, Dashlane, Nintendo Switch, Jackbox, ChatGPT, and other AI technologies.
These sessions were interspersed with opportunities for reflection, enabling participants to assimilate their experiences and extract valuable insights and ideas that could be applied to their ongoing work with young people. We aimed to create an environment where participants could not only acquire new skills but also reflect on how these could be integrated into their practices in a meaningful way.
The training culminated in rich outcomes, notably through the creation of a shared digital repository known as the Digi-Shelf. This online resource is a testament to the collaborative spirit fostered among participants and trainers. It encompasses a wide array of digital tools, educational videos, and practical guides that were explored and utilized during the training.
Participants contributed actively to the Digi-Shelf, both by drawing from it and by adding their discoveries, creating a vibrant knowledge exchange platform. This collective approach not only amplified the training's resources but also reinforced a sense of community and ongoing peer support.
Feedback from attendees highlighted a newfound confidence in navigating digital platforms and tools. Many expressed enthusiasm for the hands-on experience gained with AI applications, which demystified the technology and revealed its potential in youth work. Participants also valued the ethical discussions around AI, which sparked ideas on promoting inclusivity, privacy, and sustainability through their future initiatives.
The "Digi-shelf" is available here: https://bit.ly/tcyw
I have been a full-time trainer in a team composed of 4 total people, delivering sessions on:
- Teambuilding sessions: designing and delivering activities to strengthen collaboration among participants.
- Showcase of digital games: introducing practical digital games to enhance engagement in youth work.
- Graphic Facilitation: teaching foundational skills for visually capturing and communicating ideas.
- A.I. ethics discussion: guiding a comprehensive dialogue on AI implications, covering the future of work, AI's influence on youth, environmental sustainability, and the importance of addressing privacy, bias, and educational impacts.
I facilitated hands-on workshops that allowed participants to explore these areas through practical exercises, fostering an environment of learning-by-doing. My responsibilities also included mentoring participants in project design and implementation, ensuring they could confidently apply their new skills in their work with young people.