B-Skills - Upskilling adults learners with Blockchain basic skills
▶Summary
Digital inclusion is the European Commission's effort to ensure that everybody can contribute to and benefit from the digital economy and society. It is based on the possibility of taking advantage of the digital technologies that are reshaping the way we study, work, communicate, access online public services and find trustworthy information. In the partner countries, there was a significant part of the EU population that still lacked basic digital skills. Blockchain is definitely one of the most pervasive and life changing digital technologies included in the European Digital Strategy 2021-2027. It will transform the way we work and live in the next decades. (EC, InvestEU and a Europe Fit for the Digital Age, 2021). The impact of this technology on European citizens’ life is twofold: from one hand it allows access to new and more efficient services, improving resilience and adaptability (banking, healthcare and public sector and education, etc…), from the other hand it provides new opportunities for jobs and careers. Although technological change is rapidly destroying jobs and transforming others, it also creates entirely novel types of jobs and industries in the wake of the digital revolution.
▶Objectives
Despite the need for blockchain basic literacy, there are only few educational paths addressed to adult learners. Blockchain is a complex concept to understand. The vast majority of courses on blockchain are for IT specialists and software developers. There is still a large gap in consumable and easily accessible resources to learn about blockchain. In addition, there is also some confusion and lack of clarity of how this technology could be beneficial to the wider public. Thus, the project aimed at supporting educators and adult learners (Target groups) with training and supporting materials for the achievement of basic digital skills related to blockchain technology. We wanted to support adult learners with flexible and motivating training paths, materials and tools to prepare them for taking advantage of blockchain technology in their daily life and work.
▶Activities
The partnership, based on a solid needs analysis, produced three main project outputs: the B-Skills Toolkit that provides adult trainers with resources to implement a training course for adult learners on blockchain technology, the B-Skills Simulator providing adult learners with an engaging environment to hands on how to access and use blockchain-based services, and a MOOC supporting adult learners with flexible training to understand the basic concepts related to blockchain. Furthermore, the project organised training sessions both for trainers and learners, dissemination events and evaluation sessions.
▶Impact
The concrete outputs are: - The B-Skills Toolkit that provides key information, guidance and practical tools useful to support adult educators and trainers in implementing basic training paths focused on blockchain technology for adult learners. - The B-Skills Simulator, a Digital Blockchain Simulator designed to ensure an inclusive and engaging online environment for adult learners. - The B-Skills MOOC that consists of a modularised MOOC for a duration of 32-hours. The training course aims at promoting adult learners' proficiency in blockchain technology in order to access and use this technology in their everyday life and work.