ICT has been described as a cyber arm which extends on to reality, but we need a shift in perspective and witness ICT as a means of helping an individual develop new possibilities which can shine through their vulnerability, Maria Brown said today.
Brown, a sociology visiting lecturer, was delivering a talk titled “Eliciting Resilience in ICT teaching and learning: evidence from the STAR KIDS reaching out project”, during which she explained the findings of the STAR KIDS projects. The ongoing project is funded by ESF and National Funds, and that it is one which is constantly changing and developing.
On obtaining funding the Malta Communications Authority entrusted the work programme of Star Kids to the Faculty for Social Wellbeing of the University of Malta. Apart from Dr Brown the research team comprised Faculty Dean Prof Andrew Azzopardi and Researcher Ann Marie Cutajar.
Speaking during a presentation on Wednesday, Maria Brown said: “We realised that this project is not just beneficially for minors but also for the whole community.”
She said that this form of resilience among youths focuses on the strengths of these vulnerable youths. She said that this research highlighted that these minors are capable of “achieving more outcomes than expected despite being at greater risk than average of serious problems.”
“These minors are associated with vulnerability but in the process of meeting them and their families we encountered a lot of moments of resilience, which although was not aimed for the project, we decided to focus on this data.”
The data collected highlights how minors approach and adapt to ICT courses, to which Dr Brown said many youths easily adapt and learn the uses of technology and at points are more advanced in their understanding than their parents or guardians. She said that now that children are also exposed to ICT skills at school through the daily use of tablets and technology, these minors portray a positive sense of confidence in their work and capabilities.
She posed the question “to what extent and in what way/s minors in Malta and Gozo associated with vulnerability manifest resilience?” She said that the main findings were that most minors have a positive outcome when it comes to ICT teachings and have a sense of awareness of the danger and risks which the internet can expose minors to. “Throughout the data we found that most minors grow a sense of purpose and autonomy as they develop a deeper understanding of ICT.
She said that the talk itself focuses on the first phase of the project, which focuses on qualitative data gathered from the focus groups of both minors aged 5-17 years old and that of their carers. “The overall objective is to enhance future inclusion and future employability for minors who are associated with vulnerability, either because they are coming from residential care, live in foster homes or are benefitting from LEAP! Centres.”
She said that the project has also highlighted limitations, which are that certain minors may face limited resources, therefore some minors may have limited internet access or at times no internet whatsoever. She said that there is also a limitation in ICT knowledge, which is found not just amongst minors but also with their guardians.
“Many parents during the focus group explained that they were aware that their child was more advanced than them in ICT skills, and that at times they were not capable of helping them, because they did not know how to.” She said that she hopes that the project and services will not just be available for minors and youths, but also for their guardians, which will gap a missing sense of community and understanding.