Virtual Immersive Arts Learning System

The way young people and youth workers connect and conduct online training has likely changed permanently in last 4 years due to Covid-19. Before the pandemic, networking for young individuals inv...

The ViRALS project's main objectives were; -To enhance networking skills in preparation, implementation and follow-up of creative/artistic youth projects; -To facilitate how to create, manage and disseminate cultural/creative youth projects and personal portfolios of young artists/creatives & youth workers through a app system that allows one to browse for projects or be found according to competencies, -To use Engage-Empower-Connect methodology in creating a unique approach on digital networking and online collaboration skills. The project is designed to be a user-friendly and interactive tool for both youth organizations and cultural associations. It serves as a platform for explaining projects and enables people to browse and connect with others interested in specific competencies or topics. This setup reduces the time spent searching for the right contacts. Successful networking through the tool facilitated strategic meetings where partners and participants engaged in the preparation, implementation, and follow-up phases of projects.

During the two years of implementation, the consortium; • Organized three transnational meetings held in Sweden, Spain and Italy in different phases of the project (Sweden - 22/23rd of March 2022, Spain-14th of December 2022, Italy -18th of October 2023). Moreover, the partnership had more than 8 online meetings to ensure the project progress and tasks are on time and well-planned. • Organized an LTTA with the attendance of 22 people. LTTA occurred in the second year of the project (between 9-12nd of May 2023) in Ankara, Turkiye. • Organized Multiplier events in 6 partner countries (n.20 participants each, n.40 for Faal Derneği). The following activities were also implemented along three stages by the ViRALS consortium; -ENGAGE 1)Two online questionnaires (one for youth workers and one for young people) conducted with 60+60 people to reflect on the way online networking is currently done and which barriers exist. These data were used for the definition of an action community. 2)PR1: Creation of dynamic educational framework and MyMap for young people to visualize which youth centers, cultural places that are for youth, meeting places etc. where one can do offline networking or where to facilitate possible youth work activities, 3) A database of tools/platforms to facilitate the online creative collaborative digital work in the different fields to be mapped to introduce youth workers in their effective usage, 4) Co-development of a framework & methodology for youth workers in online networking. EMPOWER 1)PR2: An online academy of learning material for youth workers to improve their skills in online networking and effective mentoring of young artists/creatives through non formal education techniques as an online course for young people for distance-based collaboration, 2) A training mobility for youth workers (C1) on effective online networking through non formal education techniques which were held in Ankara, Turkiye between 9-12nd of May 2023, CONNECT 1)PR3: Development of the CreApp based on the competences needed by young people & youth workers to facilitate networking which is a supportive tool to enhance youth mobilities, 2) Beta test of the App through the engagement of n.120 young people and n.60 youth workers.

The concrete outputs and other results of our project can be summarized under three topic that we defined in the application form; 1)ENGAGE: The main aim of this method was to raise awareness on the different steps of digital networking for creative / artistic youth projects by connecting with targeted young people communities and equip youth workers with tools/ transversal competencies. In this manner, the consortium produced the followings; -R1: Handbook as a framework of digital networking competencies for youth: This handbook included a MyMap as community network (R1.1) made of places that facilitate networking and well-defined in a visual interactive map. In the handbook, the consortium aimed to map the current status of skills gaps (R1.2) in digital networking/youth exchange preparation/follow-up of young artists/creatives in youth organizations by interviewing n.60 youth workers + n.60 youth through all partnerships with two detailed questionnaires. 2)EMPOWER: The main aim of this method was to improve the competencies for effective digital networking among youth and exploration of non formal education applied online, improved online collaboration for the distance-based production of shared projects. For this reason, the followings were produced; -R2: Online academy for youth workers and young people in creativity and arts, -R2.1 Co-development of the blended learning course for youth workers on digital networking competencies, -R2.2 Coaching of n. 22 youth workers for young creatives/artists on transversal competencies on distance-based cooperation and networking, -C1 Co-developing the methodology draft and testing the material produced were implemented in C1:Training between the dates 9-12th of May 2023 in Ankara, Turkiye, -R2.3 Methodology for youth workers on digital tools for online networking and learning new skills, -R2.4 Distance-based coaching for the co-creation of distance-based cooperation projects by young people/creatives involved, -R2.5 Development of the online academy course for young creatives CONNECT: The main aim of this method was to deploy a digital tool which favors online networking, implementation and follow-up of youth projects. Therefore, the CreApp application was created. R3: CreApp is an application that connects young artists and youth workers through their projects to simplify the way collaborations are disseminated, browsed, created, developed. Each user can describe there their own technical (e.g. facilitation, digital tools usage, specific interests etc.) and transversal competencies (e.g. communication skills, teamwork, interpersonal skills, etc.) and look for existing youth mobilities/projects focused on competencies they are interested in or match with others to start collaborations.The app wants to facilitate how collaborations and youth projects preparation and follow-ups are created within youth work. In this way, we go beyond the limits of personal networks, and we focus on the possibility for young people to collaborate with focus on competencies, teamwork and shared objectives.