DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University participated in the 1st Learning Teaching Training Activity (LTTA) of the two-year Erasmus+ project “Advanced Media Literacy Education to counter online hate-speech [AMeLiE]”. The meeting was held in Foligno, Italy, where the coordinating organization, EGINA, is based and was the first live meeting of the project due to covid-19 restrictions.

AΜeLiE aims to address the issue of online hate-speech. The project has been created by a consortium of 6 partners from five countries (Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania). The partnership includes sectoral organisations  – national and international education networks and organisations;  VET providers, one university-HOU, and two European networks in digital skills and online hate-speech professionals.

During the 5-day meeting, from 15th to 19th November 2021, twelve trainers from Belgium,  Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Italy and Romania had an one-week long trainers’ training on how to tackle online hate speech. Greece was represented by two trainers, members of the DAISSy research group.

The first day participants learned about Parole Ostilli activities and the Manifesto of non-hostile communication with its 10 golden rules via a mostly powerful and inspiring presentation. They went through several kinds of activities and had the opportunity to brainstorm, to reflect and make suggestions for the best implementation of the Manifestoas well as inclusive speechin education.

The second day was dedicated to the AMeLiE online platform – the core of the project – which is developed by DAISSy-HOU and it will be used to train teachers, share the resources and host the Schools’Virtual Network. In a special 3-hour structured session, DAISSy experts initiated all participants to the innovative SonetBULL good practice; an interactive platform where users can not only download educational materials but can also carry out “bottom-up” initiatives and campaigns, co-construct shared content, open debates and present “cases” and their possible resolutions. Notably SonetBULL is a DAISSy production from a previous project. Subsequently, the AMeLiE platform was showcased in detail to the trainers in situ and online to the associated teachers who form the pilot group of the AMeLiE schools’ network. Everyone had the chance to test its functionalities and share ideas for improvements.

During the third day trainers had an exceptional workshop at ATLAS, a center with long experience in art therapy with technological mediation and the expertise in traditional art therapies, along with innovative verbal and non-verbal communication approaches.

The fourth day, participants’ interest peaked with cultural activities and ice breakers techniques. These techniques, such as metaphor cards, are suitable for discussing topics from different points of view and transforming a one-sided point of view into a more inclusive, broader perspective.

The last day of the LTTA was devoted on how to conduct a monthly kind speech day campaign, which constitutes one of the core activities of the AMeLiE project. A fruitful argumentation between trainers highlighted ideas and produced plans on how to involve local communities, share with other teachers and students, engage different stakeholders and make successful the monthly kind-speech-day campaign at schools.

The results of LTTA in Italy are currently studied and feedback from all partners will be used in the next phase of AMeLiE, i.e. the development of the Schools’ Virtual Network to combat online hate speech.

For more information regarding AmeLiE project and/or more news of the DAISSy Research Group:

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