Work Package 3 (WP3) of the Erasmus+ Research Project DRONE is a comprehensive research initiative aiming at understanding the challenges and opportunities faced by vulnerable adolescents in the digital age. This project focuses on groups such as migrants, those from Roma backgrounds, adolescents with disabilities, adolescents from low socio-economic statuses, and LGBTQ+ youth. The research is conducted across several European countries, including Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Germany, Ukraine, Spain, Ireland, and Croatia.

The field research in WP3 is designed to be a collaborative process using a multi-stakeholder approach. It aims to bring together students, educators, parents, and school leaders—stakeholders who do not typically share experiences—to jointly develop solutions for enhancing digital literacy and combating disinformation. This approach is crucial for diagnosing current issues from diverse perspectives.

The research is divided into two main components. The quantitative part involves adolescents completing four questionnaires that assess their perception of time, risk, resilience resources, and digital and disinformation literacy. The qualitative part includes in-depth interviews with representatives from the educational community to explore their needs and challenges in promoting digital literacy, AI, dealing with school crisis, disinformation etc.

Ethical considerations are paramount in this research. Ethical clearance has been obtained from local national ethics committees, and all participants provide written consent. For underage participants, parental consent and the adolescents’ assent are required. The research upholds participants’ rights to withdraw, ensures anonymity and confidentiality, and adheres to all ethical research standards.

The data analysis employs a value mapping approach through multicomparative statistical and thematic analysis. This analysis compares the perspectives of the four stakeholder groups, examines national frameworks of consortium partners, and considers the different forms of vulnerability among the youth population.

WP3 activities commenced in May 2024 and are set to be completed in early 2025. The preliminary analysis of data is promising, filling a significant gap in knowledge in the field. These insights will be instrumental in developing training materials and workshops for school leaders, educators, parents, and adolescents in the participating countries and other countries from Europe and the rest of the World.

Through these efforts, WP3 aims to inform the development of strategies and interventions that enhance digital literacy and resilience among vulnerable adolescents. By capturing the perspectives of diverse stakeholders across multiple countries, the project contributes to a broader understanding of these critical issues within the European context. The findings will support educational communities in fostering informed and resilient individuals capable of navigating the complexities of the digital world.

This comprehensive approach seeks to address the challenges and opportunities presented by digital technologies, ultimately benefiting educational communities and supporting the development of young people as informed and resilient individuals.

Elena Papamichael, Evgenia Partasi & Petroula Antoniou,

Cyprus Pedagogical Institute