An outline of the EU DISCOVER Skills for Carers Project

Presented by Nikki Spencer, Digital Projects Manager for Digital Birmingham, to an audience of researchers, academics and City Council figures as part of the Birmingham City Council Celebrating Research event on 16 October 2014.

1. Digital Inclusion Skills for Carers bringing
Opportunities, Value and
Excellence
Nikki Spencer
Digital Birmingham

2. DISCOVER – Skills for Carers
Pan-European project, offering information, advice, guidance and
training to support the wellbeing of carers in their caring role.
Fostering a shared learning environment for communities of
carers; to share experiences, knowledge, challenges and questions.
Using everyday technologies like the internet, mobile phones and
other digital devices to reach carers in the comfort of their own
home as well as through the use of community locations.

Raising awareness of the benefits of acquiring digital based skills
for carers as well as sharing this with those they care for, all of
which will be done in a mutually supportive way.

3. Why DISCOVER?
Impacts on:
public services,
families
health care providers
wellbeing of carers

4. Project Implementationipt eai
Pilot Siteipt eai
Pilot Siteipt eai
Pilot Siteipt eai
Pilot Site
Partners: Greece (1), Spain (2), Holland (1), UK (3), and Ireland (1).

5. What DISCOVER will do…
Create an online portal
Links to information,
advice and guidance
Provides login to
eLearning environment
Create bespoke eLearning
content based on carers
needs and market analysis
Targets informal carers (75%)
and formal carers (25%)
Take into consideration
Technology used by
carers to access Discover
learning experiences
Nature of carers
Pedagogy
Recognition and
certification
Subject focus

6. How will it achieve this…

7. Uses elements:
Moodle for eLearning
Virtual Case Creator for
Scenario based learning
Virtual Patient for
professional learning
Mahara learning portfolio
adds social networking and
transferable learning
achievements
Looking Local digital TV in
UK

8. Sample eLearning content

9. Sample eLearning content

10. Sample eLearning content

11. First results from focus groups
Time poor, stress, feelings of isolation
Wide range of digital skills
Interest in telehealth/care, assisted
living when explained
Loosing out, desire to get (back) into
job (UK yes – vs Netherlands no)
Getting through the day – what helps
Information about health conditions
Learning how to find answers

12. Translation into Learning Content
Overarching topic: How can technology help you
communicate and care better
Creation of ‘learning pathways’
a) improving the day to day life
b) preparing for the future
Teaching generic skills – e.g. how to find out about ‘dementia’
- not providing content about dementia
Use appealing menu choices / labels e.g. :
I want to talk to others (instead of communication skills)
Give me a break: How to find local help (instead of
information for carer relief)
Basic digital skills – refer to existing content

15. Identifying potential hazards ‘hotspots’ in the Enhanced Care Skills,
Virtual Case Creator Falls

16. Adapting to feedback – Carers
needs
Available with low bandwidth
Display on any screen (mobile
to pc)
Apply an icon driven
navigation design
Choice of topics
Bitesize learning
Flexible user guided learning
3.
Developi
ng for
scalability
& reuse
Student Menu Guide with Falls
Scenario

17. Scalability and Reuse
Adoption of an open source
VLE Moodle
Design supports
modularisation and
customisation
Usable across different
technologies (digital TV,
gaming, smart phone)
Enables easy translation
and localisation
Working across different
country infrastructures
3.
Developi
ng for
scalability
& reuse

18. Stakeholder engagement
for potential collaboration
Early adopters
European stakeholders through
Project Advisory Board (Sweden,
Italy)
National stakeholders to use the
service for free
European workshops
Study visit (Sweden)
5. Early
stakeholder
engagement
(cooperation)
Carers and Care Support Staff at
Midland Mencap

19. Target outcomes…
1.Strengthen the use of ICT solutions in the delivery of care
and social support: -
Higher importance placed on digital skills of carers
Improved health and care service efficiency
Effective DISCOVER platform

20. Target outcomes…
2.Increase digital competencies and engagement of carers and
those they care for: -
Improved digital and digital inclusion skills for carers
Increased digital competencies and engagement of older
people
Improved quality of life of carers through informational
access, learning and support
Contribute to structure of social inclusion professions and
market
Improved employability of formal and informal carers
Supportive network of communities

21. Target outcomes…
3.Raise the profile of social inclusion work: -
Stakeholders better educated on the value of the solution
in social inclusion and economic terms
Communities of interest established
Effective communications

22. Help us to shine a spotlight on…
www.discover4carers.eu
E: [email protected]
THANK YOU
discover4carers