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ALiVE (A learning community in the metaverse for media and information literacy of adults) is an Erasmus+ KA2 project

Welcome to the ALiVE project! This innovative Erasmus+ KA2 project aims at fostering the media and information literacy (MIL) of citizens and raising awareness of its key importance in today’s highly digitalize and globalised society, where we have easy access to incredible amounts of information, especially online, making it difficult to assess critically. In particular, targeting seniors (adults over 45), that have fewer learning opportunities to foster these skills, that are attractive, updated and directly tailor to their gaps.

Project summary:

Fostering the development of competencies in Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and critical thinking is key to supporting citizens to actively and positively engage in our democratic society. The ALiVE project aims to provide an innovative learning opportunity that addresses the need to improve the social and lifelong learning skills of adults over 45. Specifically, to provide them with the tools and knowledge they lack to consciously consume media and information, to engage in today’s online media world, and avoid misinformation and disinformation. This is especially relevant today, as the world is witnessing an unprecedented increase in polarization, hate speech and extremism, challenging human rights and disrupting the solidarity and inclusivity of all groups of people. Thus, the focus of the ALiVE project is put in supporting seniors to gain the so-called “21st-century skills” and to become truly informed digital citizens who have the knowledge and digital skills to become active participants in society.

What is the ALIVE project?

The ALiVE project aims at fostering the media and information literacy (MIL) of citizens and raising awareness of its key importance in today’s highly digitalized and globalized society, where we have easy access to incredible amounts of information, especially online, making it difficult to assess critically. In particular, targeting seniors (adults over 45), that have fewer learning opportunities to foster these skills, that are attractive, updated, and directly tailored to their gaps.
ALiVE will engage seniors in the development of a Methodological Framework of competencies in MIL, to later develop a curriculum and interactive learning materials that will focus on the competencies that they need. The content will be available in the Learning Stations in the metaverse, which will be piloted with seniors and accessible to any citizen. The Learning Stations will be hosted in a 3D virtual space, to provide an immersive learning experience, the start of a growing virtual community of learners.
The project will improve the Media and Information Literacy, critical thinking, and digital citizen skills of 75 seniors participating in the pilot. And raise awareness of the importance of MIL among education providers, and decision and policymakers. The main result is the Learning Stations in the ALiVE Virtual Environment, a space that can be scalable, and improve over time; and more importantly, provide a quality learning experience in real-time thanks to the features of 3D virtual environments.

Objectives

To foster and raise awareness among the target groups, the public and relevant stakeholders, about the importance of improving the competencies in media and information literacy of citizens.
To improve the take-up of media and information literacy as part of the formal and non-formal curricula of adult education providers, and other education providers in VET and higher education.
To improve the competencies of 75 seniors in the three main areas of MIL: media literacy, information literacy and ICT/digital literacy through their participation in the piloting of the ALiVE Learning Stations in the metaverse.
To improve the quality of learning opportunities for adult learners, especially seniors, by developing multiple learning resources including a Framework, a curriculum in MIL, a 3D virtual learning space that allows users to interact in real time, and an eBook to promote the Virtual Environment developed, as an example of the usage of innovative technologies for adult education.
- To improve the quality of learning opportunities for all citizens and generations, by developing a virtual community for learning in the metaverse, being able to grow and improve over time to host other learning experiences, and changing the concept of what we understand by online learning.

Target Groups

Direct target groups that will participate in the project implementation.
Adults over 45 years old from 6 different EU countries: Ireland, Spain, Austria, Italy, Greece, and Cyprus. (40 per partner/ min. 240 will be assessed in their level of MIL)
AL Educators from 6 different EU countries: Ireland, Spain, Austria, Italy, Greece, and Cyprus. (10 per partner/ min. 60 will be assessed in their level of MIL)
Groups of citizens from 5 different EU countries over the age of 45 years old who lack competencies in media and information literacy (min. 15 participants/training partner, min. 75 participants in total).
Teachers, researchers, programmers, and other staff from the participant organizations.
Indirect target groups with an interest in exploiting the ALiVE project outputs and outcomes:
Providers and institutions of adult education
Other providers and institutions of education (VET, HEI, etc)
Teachers in adult education centres
Decision and policymakers
Researchers and academics in the assessment of state and readiness in media and information literacy of countries and citizens.
ADU students who are not directly involved in the project and who want to learn about media and information literacy.
NGOs fostering media and information literacy, human rights, and civic participation, through non-formal actions and courses.
Public in general.
Stakeholders of the ALiVE project interested in disseminating the project outcomes and outputs:
Public authorities with competencies or interests in the field of citizen participation, awareness-raising of media and information literacy, freedom of press and expression, deliberative democracy, etc.,
Public authorities with competencies in the field of education.
Research institutions in the field of social innovation, and civic participation.