JM EU-Studies Centre: Digitalization in Europe and China – Digital Competences and Virtual Learning Spaces in Youth Education

ongoing

Shaping the digitalization (digzn.) is a EU priority. Chinese & Europeans face the same digital challenge. With its rise, China is eager to learn from the EU. The young generation, the “digital natives”, are most affected. They feel at home in the digital environment, embrace the chances digzn. offers: discussing/cooperating int’lly, spreading information, changing perspectives, becoming empowered and responsible. Digzn. also bears dangers like mobbing/hating in social media, filter bubbles, polarization, fake news, manipulation, addiction etc. Youth education creates digital literacy and empowers young people to take on the digital challenge, being aware of pros and cons. The Centre explores the digzn. status and strategies in the EU & China, focuses on youth education: What impact has learning online on learning outcomes? How can smart learning spaces, in which students meet e.g. with Virtual Reality (VR) glasses, use VR advantages effectively? How is motivation by gamification used for learning purposes? What ethical rules should be set up? The following competences are measured with surveys: Digital nativity (growing up with what kind of and how much digital environment: screen time, daily habits), access, level of competence, attitude towards smart devices, data protection and privacy, awareness of data sharing and usage (cf. General Data Protection Regulation). Which digzn. strategy can balance the risks and opportunities and educate digital natives to become responsible citizens? The project also serves the priorities to promote the European way of life, the Green Deal and an economy that works for the people - how to lift these with digital means to the next level? All project outcomes will be made publically accessible on the project’s website or as peer reviewed papers. A Chinese translation of an anthology with papers is intended to be sent to the National Reform Commission of China as a suggestion how to implement digzn. in the field of Youth Education.