Project plan version XXO

As you know I am using this space to share my project for H818 and the work that I am doing around this. Part of this is to help me to share, and part of it is to make myself think out loud and be able to go back and look at how my thought processes have changed and developed.

So here is the next version of the project (I have forgotten what version).

Being Prepared. Adopting a values-driven approach to digital inclusion within a volunteer organisation.

Purpose. Scouting volunteers do amazing things with young people every day, but for some there still exists a fear of using online tools. Reminding volunteers of the values and methods of Scouting can help to overcome their fears and understand that the online world is another ‘undiscovered world’ of opportunity.

Linking to the conference theme: a focus on Inclusion. Looking through the lens of 'inclusion', the project will investigate the wider issues of digital inclusion as seen through the four barriers identified by the Government’s Digital Inclusion Strategy (Access, Skills, Motivation and Trust)

Project aim and scope. The project’s aim is to explore barriers in relation to making the online world accessible to volunteers, focusing on motivational and trust barriers. Firstly, the ‘access’ barriers relate to connectivity and availability, over which the organisation has less influence and work is being undertaken by the government to address this. Secondly there already exists a wealth of debate about the ‘skills’ barrier, and it is assumed adults will need to learn new skills.

The ‘motivation’ and ‘trust’ barriers are social and psychological, as well as practical barriers to digital inclusion. These barriers require volunteers to explore their fears about safety and identity, and be able to translate their ‘offline’ selves to the ‘online’ world. The project activities will look at existing research and practices to identify the issues surrounding these barriers, in order to educate volunteers and provide a sound basis for taking an approach that links back to the values and methods of Scouting.

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Over the next few weeks I will be exploring the motivation and trust barriers, which neatly follow on from the discussions that Amanda Palmer brought up in the last blog post. So please feel free to share your thoughts or experiences about the barriers of being online, from a social or psychological perspective.