Making IT Personal: Joining the DOTs is an ambitious new scheme that is designed to tackle digital exclusion by harnessing the knowledge and experience of people who enjoy using technology and like helping friends and family.
The DOT model is all about help and encouragement wherever and whenever it’s needed. A DOT is a Digital Outreach Trainer, an informal mentor for those grappling with technology for the first time—not an expert, simply someone who is able to pass useful knowledge on and volunteers to do so.
The pilot project, operating across South Yorkshire and funded by the European Social Fund, provides recognition and the chance to learn for those who get involved. Participants get coaching in mentoring, and can access learning resources and courses, including OCN level 2 or 3 accreditation as a Digital Mentor. DOTS gain formal approval by keeping an online record of the occasions they help someone else—whether at work, among neighbours and friends, or at the shops—and the criteria for approval meet OCN requirements so it is easy to step onto a qualification.
The scheme offers wider learning opportunities, including literacy, numeracy and employability skills, with DOTs as mentors.
DOTs pass on what they know and create new DOTs, becoming part of a self-perpetuating network of technology users and mentors, narrowing the digital divide, person by person
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DOTs Celebrate Three Years of Innovation
Posted on 20 July 2012 11:43
On 12th July the ‘Making IT Personal: Joining the DOTs’ Programme celebrated three years of helping people to get online in South Yorkshire, supported by the European Social Fund. Phil Coppard, former Chief Executive of Barnsley Council, introduced and chaired the event. Phil advocated the original Making IT Personal vision for South Yorkshire that led [...]
