Presentation Panel
Expanding Digital Education for Elderly, Hard-to-Reach and Displaced Learners
Date Thursday, Nov 23 Time –
Discover groundbreaking initiatives in digital learning for elderly learners, underserved populations and refugees in this panel session.
Find out how to address the unique challenges in terms of accessibility and usability faced by elderly learners and dive into the urgent need for education among the unreachable, including prisoners, the homeless, and sex workers.
Speakers in this session will also uncover strategies to mitigate the barriers typically experienced by displaced learners in relation to behavioural, emotional, social and cognitive engagement online.
Anna Grabowska
E-Learning Specialist, Academy of Third Age, Poland
Dr. Eng. Anna Grabowska has long term experience in distance education. In 1994 she received a master's degree at the University De Montfort in Leicester in the UK. In 2001 she defended her doctoral thesis with the title of a doctor of technical sciences at Gdansk University of Technology. Since 1995 she has been the manager of Autodesk Authorised Training Centre at Gdansk University of Technology (Autodesk Academic Partner). In 1998-2004, she served as head of the Distance Education Centre at Gdansk University of Technology. She is a founding member of the Association of Academic E-learning, an advisor at U3A online. Since 2007 she has been conducting meetings with the computer for elderly at Gdansk University of Technology. She has been involved in educational European projects dedicated to Lifelong Learning for All. Since 2021 she is in a team behind U3A Communities https://u3acommunities.org/. She is an active member of Seniors in Action Ambassadors Club https://seniorzywakcji.pl/o-programie/ambasadorzy-i-ambasadorki/.
Gabi Witthaus
Research Fellow - Education in Contexts of Mass Displacement, University College London (UCL), the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
Dr Gabi Witthaus undertakes research and consultancy work on topics around inclusive online learning and teaching, with a particular focus on refugees in online higher education. She started her career in the NGO sector in South Africa in the 80s, teaching adult literacy in informal “night schools” in Johannesburg, where she also trained hundreds of volunteer tutors and industry-based trainers during and after the apartheid years. Gabi entered Higher Education in 2009, when she moved to the UK to join the Beyond Distance Research Alliance at the University of Leicester. Since then, she has contributed to dozens of successful funded research and development projects focusing on innovative technologies for learning, open education, hybrid teaching, micro-credentials and the recognition of prior online learning. Gabi divides her time between her consultancy work and her roles at University College London (UCL) as a Research Fellow - Education in Contexts of Mass Displacement, and the University of Birmingham’s Higher Education Futures institute as a learning designer. Gabi has a PhD in Higher Education, Enhancement and Evaluation from Lancaster University. She blogs about her research at https://artofelearning.org/.
Links
Daiana Huber
CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER, Center for Promoting Lifelong Learning, Romania
With over 16 years of dedicated experience in the field of education and criminal justice reform, I am honored to be a featured speaker at this esteemed conference. My journey began at the Faculty of Sociology and Psychology, Department of Educational Sciences at the University of the West, where I obtained my Bachelor's Degree in Sciences of Education and Pedagogy, and later, a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Advocacy.
Equipped with a solid foundation in educational sciences and public policy, I've been a driving force in reshaping education within correctional settings. As a Senior Researcher and coordinator of the "Urban Security & Rule of Law" Department at CPIP Romania, my focus has been on pioneering educational programs for incarcerated individuals.
One of my most impactful endeavors has been the setting up of competencies profile for education professionals working in corrections, a groundbreaking initiative that revolutionized the pre-release period for prisoners. Through collaboration with senior policymakers and government officials across Europe, we emphasized civic and citizenship competencies, fostering a sense of responsibility and empowerment among inmates.
My involvement in key professional networks, including the European Prison Education Association (EPEA) and the European Association for Adult Education – Digitalization Working Group, has been instrumental in amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. These platforms have not only enabled me to engage with policymakers at national and regional levels but also provided a vital space for advocating digital education in prisons.
I am proud to be a member of the European Digital Education Hub, particularly in Squad 8 - Diversity, equity, and inclusion, where I have been actively involved in shaping inclusive educational practices.
In addition, this year, I had the privilege of hosting an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on digital education in prisons, in commemoration of the Prison Education Day. This session was featured on the European Commission website, further highlighting the critical role of digital education in rehabilitation efforts.
In addition to my current role, I serve as a member of the Executive Committee of the European Basic Skills Network (EBSN), solidifying my commitment to advancing education and skills development in diverse contexts. Furthermore, I am a steadfast supporter and active member of the RESCALED initiative, championing the cause for small detention houses and their essential role in rehabilitation.
Drawing from this rich tapestry of experience, I am committed to advancing digital education as a powerful tool for rehabilitation and reintegration. By leveraging technology and innovative pedagogical approaches, we can unlock new pathways to learning and equip incarcerated individuals with essential skills for a brighter future.
As we convene at this conference, I look forward to engaging with fellow advocates, policymakers, and stakeholders in a collective effort to reshape the landscape of education in correctional settings. Together, we have the opportunity to harness the potential of digital education and create lasting impact for individuals seeking a second chance.
Gavin Henrick
CEO, Brickfield Education Labs, Ireland
Gavin Henrick is the CEO and co-founder of Brickfield Education Labs which provides an integrated accessibility platform for Moodle based LMS.
Gavin has 20 years’ experience assisting organisations to implement learning solutions for online training, blended learning, and self-paced instruction.
The Accessibility Toolkit enables organisations to effectively improve accessibility and usability of their course materials by automating finding issues, and guiding instructors to fix the issues and helping futureproof the content through automated document conversion to accessible formats.
Links
Moderator
Erica Neve
Learning Director, Strategic Advisor, Board member,, The Eden Project, The Bio_Leadership Project and Aim Hi Earth, United Kingdom
Erica’s L&D career is shaped by her passion for addressing our most pressing and complex challenges and creating the conditions for everyone to remain meaningfully part of society.
Erica has designed and led global transformation learning programmes for household names, whilst also leading the strategy of the largest direct to consumer blended learning digital skills programme, in Europe and the UK (for Meta).
Currently, Erica applies nature-informed regenerative practice to focus on the climate and biodiversity emergency. Erica is developing leadership programmes, business transformation programmes and advising educational businesses working in finance, nature, climate and organisational transformation. Erica is a board member at The Eden Project.
Links
Enhancing Elderly Learners' Education through Moodle and Artificial Intelligence for Synergy and Sustainability of EU projects, Anna Grabowska
This presentation outlines a plan to enhance the educational experience of elderly learners by leveraging Moodle and AI technologies. The plan aims to address unique needs and challenges faced by elderly learners and provides personalised learning opportunities that promote lifelong learning and social inclusion.
Anna Grabowska will present best practices on seamlessly integrating Moodle and AI-powered personalisation and on enhancing accessibility and usability enhancements. She will also address strategies for sustainability, ethical considerations and practical implementation guidelines about community building and social engagement.
Fostering Learning Engagement among Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Online Higher Education, Gabi Witthaus
This presentation offers recommendations for fostering online engagement among refugees and asylum seekers in distance learning programmes. It outlines the barriers and enablers typically experienced by displaced learners in relation to behavioural, emotional, social and cognitive engagement online, and then unpicks the capabilities needed for engagement in each of these dimensions.
Since the capability to engage online is affected by circumstances outside of the control of both the student and the course provider, thoughtful strategies are needed to mitigate the barriers. Examples of such strategies will be discussed, with a view to increasing retention of displaced students.
Hard-to-reach and Hard-to-serve: Digital Education in the Context of Criminal Correctional Justice, Daiana Huber
This presentation will cover the critical challenges faced by adult learners within the criminal correctional justice system, particularly in the digital context. It emphasises the significant distance to education, lack of basic skills, and altered sense of citizenship experienced by incarcerated adults.
Daiana Huber will highlight the policy and legal basis for promoting education in European prisons, emphasising the right to lifelong learning. She will also address the unique struggles faced by both incarcerated learners and correctional staff in accessing and utilising digital resources. Additionally, she will explore the implications of digital exclusion on the reintegration process into society.
Designing an Inclusive Learning Experience for Education and Training, Gavin Henrick
Making training and learning content more accessible means removing barriers that prevent some learners from engaging with the materials in an equal, effective, and integrated manner. This includes ensuring materials and assessments are provided in formats that all leaners can use.
At this presentation, Gavin Henrik from Brickfield Education Labs
will introduce attendees to inclusive approaches in creating digital content for online and face-to-face. He will also look at the fundamentals of web accessibility and how to create better web content to provide a better and equivalent experience for all users.
Takeaways:
- Expand your understanding of learning content accessibility.
- Gain insights into common barriers for learners.
- Learn about the techniques to avoid building barriers to learning.