Project description

Imagination, creativity and innovation are undoubtedly the virtues of every social group, but these skills must be developed from an early age. Dynamically evolving digital technologies teach both creativity and logical thinking. Through our project, we would like to motivate children and young people to spend their free time meaningfully, to develop their passions and talents in the digital world at this time, and also to learn something new through cooperation
on an international scale.

Today’s young generation is strongly influenced by technology, the most common means of entering the digital environment is a mobile phone, otherwise a smartphone. However, young people also commonly use other platforms, thanks to which they surf the Internet for an average of 2-3 hours a day. There are also those who spend most of the day on the networks and are constantly online. However, the widespread use of the Internet affects both children and teenagers. Thus, it seems that young people should not have problems with the comprehensive use of technology.

However, the studies concluded:
Young people are usually a passive recipient of information, and truly creative use of the opportunities offered by modern technologies can be considered a marginal phenomenon. The EU Kids Online report of 2018 shows that children and young people are primarily consuming content, not creatively using technology. Despite the large number of applications available on the market, almost 60% of respondents have never created anything with them. Only 4.7% of young people run their own blog or website, around 5% create music or movies, and 7.8% edit graphics and process photos.
There is no doubt that young people value the internet as a source of knowledge and learning aids. Here, too, young people take a rather passive approach and use ready-made content that can be found on portals and websites. Relatively, young people use the internet to share their own creativity, discuss important social issues or participate in online communities that develop certain hobbies. Teenagers themselves have doubts about their digital skills. The project therefore wants to respond to the above issues and aims to show young people in an attractive way how to use digital media in a creative and creative way.

Project issues

The world is changing at the speed of light in the area of ​​digital competence. Skills that were dedicated to a narrow group of specialists fifteen years ago have now become our daily lives and require up-to-date information on new trends and services in the digital world. Currently, there is a dynamic increase in the popularity of the Internet. Information and communication technologies (ICT) are very widespread among the general public, both due to their availability, the development of technologies and the costs of purchasing and using them. Easy and relatively cheap access to the Internet has significantly influenced the patterns of behavior of society as a whole, as well as individuals. Young people are particularly active in cyberspace. Internet use has become almost a social norm for children and adolescents. From an early age, the virtual space accompanies them in their cognitive, recreational and interactive activities. Research shows that the average age at which children start using the Internet systematically is 9 years and 7 months. The results of an empirical examination of the presence of young people on the Internet show that respondents take a passive rather than an active approach. One of the biggest challenges in the context of digital development is to prepare society to function in this new, ever-changing world, to reap the benefits of these changes and to bridge the widening gap between ICT literacy and illiteracy.

Project goal

The aim of the project is to create space and opportunities for establishing cooperation and integration of young people from the Polish-Czech border in the field of creative use of digital technologies. Children participating in the project will enter the world of technologies that go beyond their previous experience, have the space to exchange experiences and best practices in new technologies, share their skills, get to know each other and establish relationships with their Polish and Czech peers through Internet networks. the current pandemic situation will promote integration.
A well-used Internet space can be an opportunity for a child to develop their educational, social or professional future, using creative applications, programs and IT solutions during the day can help increase their digital competencies, achieve better learning outcomes, make new friends or creative leisure activities. .

Therefore, the long-term goal is also to prepare the young generation to function in the future labor market with the support of the so-called competence of the future, stimulation of logical, causal thinking and focus on finding mistakes and solving problems.

Expected results of the project

New technologies can effectively deliver knowledge, satisfy the world’s natural curiosity, and teach creativity. Young people participating in the project will be able to take advantage of the opportunities offered by digital technologies to reach their full potential, make cross-border contacts and friendships and acquire new skills. Thanks to the Internet, they will be able to discover new places and the culture of their neighbors. The project envisages that promoting the constructive and socially engaged use of digital media and mobile devices will lead to a slow shift of young Internet users from a “recipient” of digital content to being “creators”. The “recipient” makes it easy to receive content, but it is only possible to use it correctly if he knows how to find certain materials online and how to choose them correctly. The role of the “creator” is characterized mainly by the constant interaction with other participants in the network who share similar interests or a similar worldview.
Integration and exchange of experience will also be a very important aspect of the project. Project participants will have the opportunity to stay in touch and get to know each other through a communication platform. The activities of the project will lead to the strengthening of ties between the peers of the Polish-Czech border. In addition, joint project activities will integrate local communities and thus exchange experiences, best practices and knowledge that may result in the implementation of other projects in the future.