FOREWORD
MEET – JOIN – CONNECT! Digital Interna- tional Youth Work – A methodology offers an overview of the pedagogical and methodo- logical approaches that are suitable for digital formats. The first two contributions in part 1, by Dr Niels Brüggen and Franziska Koschei ( JFF – Institute for Media Research and Media Educa- tion) , offer an introduction to the fundamen- tals of Digital International Youth Work. Digital International Youth Work, a sub-field of Digital Youth Work, is a combination of the pedagogi- cal aspects of media education and those of In- ternational Youth Work. Contribution number two outlines general issues in connection with digital settings. This is followed by a methodo- logical examination of group dynamics in dig- ital exchanges by Christoph Schneider-Laris. The fourth contribution, by Bettina Wissing of IJAB’s Language Unit, centres around language and communication in digital settings. Part 2 of the publication is dedicated to hands- on examples of Digital International Youth Work. Readers, including experts and team leaders, are invited to read through these tried-and-tested methods and diagrams to gain a rapid overview of what has previously worked in which settings. The bibliography and list of further resources at the end of the publication offer useful tips and information on methodologies and tools for Digital Interna- tional Youth Work. The checklist in the annex summarises the most important aspects to be considered when planning and implementing digital formats.
Allowing individuals to interact across borders, getting to know new people, exploring new cul- tures, exchanging views and developing inter- cultural skills and an open view of the world together – all this is made possible thanks to International Youth Work. And yet something has shifted in recent years. International Youth Work is no longer an exclusively offline domain; rather, it has begun to benefit from the digital transformation. Digital formats have become commonplace, with digital elements now a fix- ture in International Youth Work activities. The experiences made and insights gained during the process of digitalisation have shown that digital tools deliver real added value to learn- ing mobility programmes. They make it easier to involve young people more in programme design, they enable organisations to reach out to new target groups, and they allow partici- pants to get to know each other even before they travel to an on-site activity. Yet how can digital elements be integrated into Internation - al Youth Work activities in a purposeful way? What methodological aspects and challenges have to be considered? In 2021 and 2022, IJAB and JFF – Institute for Media Research and Media Education teamed up with specialist and funding agencies for In- ternational Youth Work on a research project known as Internationale Jugendarbeit.digital . In 2020, IJAB published MEET – JOIN – CON- NECT! Digital tools for international youth work practitioners , a brochure highlighting the many ways digital tools can be used in this field. This publication builds on that foun- dation – it is a compilation of the pedagogical and methodological expertise acquired by or- ganisations that work in this area, as well as of the insights gained while implementing digital formats such as the DIY² Lab event series and the international BarCamps known as Digital Transformer Days .
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