Copyright:

cSPACE

Summary:

An interactive online guide to be produced by young East Londoners initially for visitors to the 2012 Games, and beyond that as an ongoing resource for local use.

Description:

An online ‘where to go’ guide with downloadable materials to be created by young East Londoners (11-18 years), for visitors to the 2012 Olympics and beyond. It will create the foundation for an ongoing and developing resource by and for this much overlooked age group, serving to foster ownership and pride in their local neighbourhoods. Audio-visual production will take place through youth groups, after school clubs and Informal Community Education teams across the area, resulting in a unique view of East London life from a teenage perspective.

Learning will encompass new media skills, web journalism, editing and uploading. Transferable and social skills including communication and teamwork will be enhanced by confidence and self-esteem developed through their role as local experts.

The site will be for use by individuals and groups both globally and locally and offer information and maps for downloading to handheld devices.

Our initial plan has been to use wiki freeware, providing low-cost interactivity and free video uploading. However this does not provide for moderation and may not be suitable for new methods of mapping to mobile users. We are therefore seeking advice and resources to develop a suitable site to encompass these features.

How it might be used:

The Young Person’s Guide to East London is for use by both young visitors and locals. From hundreds of recommendations contributed by local young people, users will be able to find information on music and culture, where to eat, shop, participate in sport, have a good time or just hang out, and also watch short videos on aspects of East London life. The guide would be accessed at home or prior to a group visit, and contain downloadable files for use on site using the emerging technology of mobile mapping.

The key learning opportunities of this project lie in its production. Processes of engagement will draw on our recent experience of Young Person’s Guide to the Royal Docks. Learning will be promoted through the introduction of both media and transferable skills, while involvement in a professional output for the real world aims to develop confidence and self-esteem. Participant involvement will be via youth groups, after school clubs, referral units and community education schemes. Workshop activities will involve research, documentation, site visits, written reviews with young people editing and uploading their own materials. Undergraduate mentors will also be involved to offer support, role modelling and an accessible introduction to educational progression.

Contact:

Loraine Leeson
cSPACE
l.leeson@uel.ac.uk