netWorked Youth Research for

Empowerment in the Digital society

“Empowering children and young

people as digital citizens”

Children’s Research Network

6th December 2018

WYRED ProjectFocus of Presentation

Background and WYRED methodological cycle (Mary)

Example of the WYRED approach in practice (Mairead)

Next steps in empowering more children and young people to

talk and share about their digital lives (Paul)

WYRED MissionAIMS

WYRED aims to

amplify voices of children and young people

strengthen views through children and youth-led research

connect with decision-makers

broaden understanding of the digital society

make children and youth perspectives matter

dialogue>research questions >research project>outputs for policy

WYRED ConsortiumPartner Organisations

WYRED Partnership designed to ensure diverse and inclusive range of children and young people,

strong connections and proximity to policy-makers and

decision-makers

BOUNDARIES (UK); MOVES (Austria); USAL University of Salamanca (Spain); YEU Youth for Exchange and Understanding (Belgium); EARLY YEARS (Northern Ireland); DOGA SCHOOLS (Turkey) PYE GLOBAL (UK); OXFAM (Italy); TAU Tel Aviv University (Israel)

WYRED StructureThe WYRED Cycle

WYRED Structure

• Development and testing of a new methodological framework for working with children and young people.

• Building an online platform that functions as a safe space for children and young people to carry out their explorations and exchanges, connecting children and young people from different environments.

• Over a thousand children and young people, across seven European countries, and a wide range of ages and socio-economic backgrounds, have been engaged in the process.

• A process of children and youth dialogues have identified a set of concerns that are of particular importance to European children young people at present.

• The consortium is supporting a wide range of children and youth-led exploratory and research projects in which these children and young people are getting the chance to go beyond opinion to more in-depth understanding of the issues that concern them.

The WYRED Story So Far- Years 1 and 2

WYRED takes as its starting point the importance of involving children and young people and stakeholders in a process to identify the key areas that they will then focus on in subsequent activities.

WYRED Phase 1: Preparation

This approach was used to elicit additional important insights from a large group of participants.

Using the Delphi concept: iterative group interaction was facilitated and implemented across multiple rounds.

8

3.27

3.28

3.33

3.53

3.61

3.63

3.64

3.68

3.68

3.87

3.90

3.91

3.99

4.09

4.10

3.00 3.20 3.40 3.60 3.80 4.00 4.20

Adult…

Crime

Roles of parents,…

Reliability of…

Internet safety; privacy

Environmental…

Cyber-bullying,…

Causes of stress…

Integration of…

Employment prospects

Gender stereotypes /…

Self-image, self-…

Mental wellbeing

Tolerance to different…

Necessary changes in…

Delphi2 Delphi1

3.45

3.57

3.57

3.63

3.75

3.75

3.78

3.78

3.90

3.90

3.93

4.05

4.07

4.18

4.20

Adults…

Media literacy

Roles of parents,…

Crime

Cyber-bullying, shaming

Causes of stress among…

Integration of…

Gender stereotypes /…

Employment prospects

Environmental problems

Internet safety & privacy

Mental wellbeing

Self-image, self-…

Necessary changes in…

Tolerance to different…

Round 1 Round 29

Importance of Issues of concern for Young People

Article 12: UNCRC

All children have the right to express their views freely in all matters that affect them

WYRED Phase 2: Dialogue

A key aim of WYRED is to engage children and young people in a process of social dialogue that gives them a voice, and help them use this process to design participatory research projects that allow them to surface and explore their concerns about the digital society in ways defined by them.

First cycle social dialogues

510 participants in 30 face to face dialogues + 2 online.

Second cycle social dialogues

538 participants in 75 face to face dialogues + 3 ongoing international online dialogues

Emerging from these sessions, 131 research questions were

elaborated, leading to the WYRED action phases.

Results of the Social Dialogue Sessions

WYRED Phase 3: Research

As the research questions were generated, the children and young people decided themselves to take action through becoming involved in research projects.

Projects varied from • Reflection and discussion, presented in conference session (Yoga in society) • Exploration and video development (Homes and homelessness) • Refection and journaling (Thoughts about Life) • Investigation, questionnaire and posters (Lies on the Internet)• Online exploration in community, open dialogue (Gaming)

A wide range of other project types have been facilitated by partners working to support the children and young people: research projects, creative projects, journalistic approaches, blogging, vlogging, journalling, podcasting, action research, ethnographic projects, solidarity projects

WYRED Phase 3: Research Sharing on WYRED Platform

WYRED Phase 4: Evaluation

Ongoing evaluation is critical to the success of WYRED activities. From initial phases, partners have worked together to collect data and evidence on how children and young people in each country have experienced and engaged within each methodological step. Evaluation toolkits have been designed to allow the voices of children and young people to emerge. Project results are shared and discussed through the WYRED platform.

WYRED approach in practiceEarly Years Northern Ireland

Research topics/activities

Self Esteem-How does the Online world affect this?

Do Children really understand when they are bullies online?

Are children aware of keeping safe online?

Why do children tell lies on the internet?

Prioritised TopicsSelf Image and self confidenceCyber bullying and shamingInternet safety and privacy

Year 3 of WYRED will see a focus on the overarching theme of OUR LIVES ONLINE, with subthemes:

• Living on social media• Gender• Self-image• Internet safety• Information and fake news• Digital participation and activism

Next Steps in the WYRED Story- Year 3

1. Children and young people will continue to develop new research questions and projects, driving these conversations and sharing them with their peers across Europe.

2. A calendar of events is being prepared and will be available on the WYRED platform in early January.• Central to these planned activities is an online festival that will take

place in April 2019.• Online activities will be organised around the six themes.

3. Ongoing collaborative work will be taking place with decision-makers and policy-makers to highlight the results and insights emerging from WYRED. Conference presentations, networking activities and other sessions and meetings with stakeholders will continue.

Activities WYRED Year 3

Your children and young people can join in with these discussions and debates.

As facilitators, you can access toolkits, talk to the partners, other facilitators and the children and young people.

Talk to us, go to the website, sign up for any of these events.

If you are interested, you can get your children and young people involved, empowering them to ask questions and have conversations about their digital lives and their online presences.

What can you do?

You can expect them to improve understanding of the digital world. In WYRED you go beyond simply expressing a like or dislike, or your basic opinion. You actually explore the issues that matter to you and share it with peers.

You can expect to explore in depth. WYRED is a space in which you have the opportunity to go deeper in to a subject that interests you and find out what is really going on, as opposed to what the media or others are telling you. It is a chance to explore in your own way!

You can expect to have a good time. WYRED involves work, and concentration, but most of the people who have participated so far say they have found it interesting and enjoyable, and they have valued the chance to make a difference.

Why would the child or young person engage?

When you participate in WYRED we ensure that your views are heard, and listened to, by the people who make decisions. Both the opinions you express, and the results of your WYRED projects are shared with the right people so that your views can make a difference.

You can expect to meet and work with others from other countries. In our online conversations you can talk to others who are interested in the same issues as you are, and if you like you can work on the same project with them, national and internationally.

You can give charge to your children and young people. In WYRED they choose what to work on, it is their project their voice, and their decision. We can help, offer suggestions and approaches, but it will still be their project and their decisions.

You can provide a platform where your children and young people can express opinions freely. No-one is judging, no-one has specific expectations, and there are no right answers. WYRED is their platform from which they can tell the world what they think, in a free, safe space.

Why would other stakeholders engage?

WYRED

WYRED Online Festival from January 2019

GET INVOLVED!https://wyredproject.eu

W Y R E DnetWorked Youth Research forEmpowerment in the Digital society

WYRED Consortium