The following references provide links to online learning and training opportunities for youth leaders, youth workers and youth work organisations to stay up to date on developments in digital youth work.
The main stakeholders at European level are constantly updating their web sites to take account of the increased need for digital youth work. You may want to check the European Youth Portal by the European Union, the Youth Department of the Council of Europe, the EU-CoE youth partnership, European Youth Forum.
Digital Youth Work project created useful tools for digital youth work developments:
Online courses offer opportunities to learn and develop competences necessary for youth work in the age of the internet.
The HOP platform fosters online learning and offers a growing number of online courses and podcasts targeting different aspects of European youth work.
Some of the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) available in the youth field:
- #MOOCyouth: Erasmus+ Funding Opportunities for Youth covers a general overview about Erasmus+ Youth, specific information about Youth Exchanges, Mobility of Youth Workers, Strategic Partnerships and Structured Dialogue.
- #MOOCsolidarity: Ready, Set, Make the change! European Solidarity Corps Online Course covers the general overview of the European Solidarity Corps funding opportunities, specific information about Volunteering, Traineeships and Jobs and Solidarity Projects, support measures for young people, how to obtain the Quality Label, and how to apply for funding.
- YOCOMO – an ETS online course on competence-based development for youth workers! covers a competence-based approach in international youth work, the ETS Competence Model for Youth Workers to Work Internationally, tools for competence self-assessment, how to use the competence model for professional development
The Partnership between the Council of Europe and the European Commission in the field of youth is also working on MOOCs and has offered several editions of online course on Youth Essentials of Youth Policy and is in the process of developing online courses on youth work.
The Star of Europe: digital resources for Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges is a very innovative platform with digital resources to involve young people throughout all the stages of a youth exchange project.
Cities of Learning platform has an increasing number of local and online learning activities for young people and lifelong learners. Learning organisations can publish single activities or a learning pathway and issue digital badges to recognise skills and achievements. Municipality youth departments can run the platform to transform a city into an ecosystem of learning and recognition.
Appraiser platform for trainers’ professional development offers free solutions for professional development, which includes self-assessment, feedback from participants, colleagues, and a competence development plan.
The Network of Professional Open Youth Work in Europe (POYWE) published the 5th issue of their online magazine “Logbook” focused on the theme of Digital Youth Work ; and the 6th on Exploring Digital Competences
Join Facebook groups like Digital Youth Work, NFL goes online and Online Tools for Learning to follow and exchange news and good practices for digital youth work.
Several European partnerships developed guidelines on how youth work and training organisations can create and deliver online learning and training activities:
- Online Training of Youth Workers (2018) is a practical manual with tools to design and facilitate online training of youth workers including real life experiences and examples.
- DOYIT eLearning Guide offers step-by-step guidance towards delivering a quality eCourse to youth information workers.
- Digi youth portal offers practical tutorials and theory behind online learning in youth work.