Innovation Exchange

What is the problem you are working to solve?

Involving NEET and excluded/disadvantaged young people in new forms of learning. In particular:

 Engagement in diverse contexts (our work has happened on the streets, in youth clubs, community centres, hostels, shopping centres …)
 Exciting young people in learning via introduction to cutting edge technologies
 Building trust by giving young people ownership of/exposure to high value technology & gadgets
 Exposing young people to artists/innovators/technologists so as to inspire, build aspiration and develop alternative role models
 Linking participants to further opportunities within more mainstream provision

• How are you going to do it?

FreqOUT! is a project which seeks to explore the potential for learning by using wireless, mobile and emergent technologies. Some of these are technologies that are not yet commercialised, and are often in the hands of artists/digital innovators. These technologies are extremely flexible, instantaneous, mobile and immediate. They promote learning on platforms familiar to all young people – mobile phones, PDAs, sensors, CCTV … Young people are comfortable with the gadgetry and are fired up by the possible applications. Our learning programmes are designed to be immediate and stimulating, very hands on but within contexts/themes which they determine.

Our work to date has looked at the potential for these technologies to provide a gateway and platform for learning in a new way. We have piloted work with disadvantaged groups of young people in some of London’s most deprived inner city neighbourhoods. The learning modules have included geo-graffiti, emotional mapping, perceptual landscapes, mobile film-making & treasure hunting, CCTV film making, sonic landscapes accessed by wireless devices ….

We are documenting our progress with this work via a blog at:
http://www.freqout.blogspot.com/ and at:
http://www.vitalregeneration.org.uk/freqout

These learning programmes have been particularly effective at engaging young people in explorations/analysis of their environment, neighbourhoods, contexts … important when our target groups have been homeless young people and those who are temporary/socially housed. Young people have engaged, stayed involved, showcased their learning, developed entrepreneurial skills, progressed, volunteered … all as a result of these projects.

They have also brought young people into collaborative relationships with businesses, artists, innovators and support staff.

We would like to develop our work and understanding further in this field including
 idea incubation/development
 engaging with industry re technology developments
 exploring applications/contexts for emergent media facilitated learning (we believe some of our tools can be powerful in different learning contexts e.g. museums, galleries, streets, shopping centres …),
 identifying partners for collaboration and exchange
 developing our artist/digital innovator pool of associates
 developing curriculum and success frameworks
 sharing/building good practice in this space and
 considering meaningful progression opportunities from such innovative delivery

• Who will benefit?

NEET/disadvantaged young people. Young people in social housing contexts, those in temporary accommodation and those at risk of/experiencing homelessness. Young people experiencing deprivation and poverty. Young people from ethnic minorities backgrounds who are particularly at risk of NEET. Many of the NEET young people we work with experience some of the following: mental health issues, involvement with criminal justice system, basic skills needs (literacy & numeracy), learning difficulties, family/cultural conflict, gangs, substance misuse, (lone) parenthood.

There are wider benfits for families and the wider community in terms of positive engagement, skills development, confidence building and refreshed aspirations.