The European co-funded project “Advanced Media Literacy Education to counter online hate-speech (AMeLiE)” was recently completed, summarizing two and a half years of demanding and high-quality implementation. AMeLIE received very positive evaluation from the Italian Erasmus+ Managing Authority and scored 96/100. As a result, the project was characterized as a good practice, and will be presented as such on the official Erasmus+ project results platform, since it succeeded in exceeding its objectives in relation to both the horizontal objectives of the European Program, and the specific objectives of the school community which it targeted.
The AMeLiE project addressed the issue of online hate speech, producing innovative tools for the education and training of both teachers and representatives of the school community. In particular, within the framework of the project, a Blended Training activity on combating online hate speech was developed, a Virtual Network of schools against online hate speech was established, and Policy Recommendations were drawn up and disseminated by the AMeLie partners at national and European level.
The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU), the Greek project partner, was responsible for the implementation of all AMeLiE activities in Greece, participated in all the intellectual outputs and deliverables, and it was the Leading Partner in the overall Quality Assurance as well as the development and support of the operation of the AMeLie online educational platform. It is noteworthy, that the majority of the platform’s end-users evaluated it highly positively, considering it to be an easy-to-use tool with very interesting educational content to combat online hate speech, having an attractive structure that favors the exchange of ideas and communication, with well-integrated functions that made them feel confident without much knowledge needed as a pre-requisite in order to use it. They further stated that it is extremely likely to recommend the platform to others, which indicates their satisfaction out of its use and its further development potentials.
Through the educational program and the AMeLiE platform, in the four (4) piloting countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania), 318 teachers benefited – a number more than double the target number of the project, and more than 3,500 students took an active part in project activities. In particular, more than 170 classes from the interconnected schools utilized the AMeLiE methodology and platform, and 66 school campaigns against online hate speech as well as 64 initiatives have been developed and shared.
The DAISSy Research Group of the HOU wishes to warmly congratulate and thank the schools that actively participated in the actions of the AMeLiE project in Greece, for making full use of the methodology and contributing to the sustainability of its results. In alphabetical order these are: Elementary School of Katohori – Hania; 6th Elementary School of Pallini; Experimental School of the University of Thessaloniki; “Kathariou Arhontia” Private Kindergarten; Music School of Larissa and 2nd Senior High School of Xanthi–Winner of the national award for their AMeLiE campaign.
The AMeLiE project has been co-financed by the European Union, under the Erasmus+ Programme, Action KA2 – Strategic Partnerships in the field of school education. It was a two and a half year project (01/09/2020 – 28/02/2023) that has been implemented by a consortium of six partners from five countries, namely: European Grants International Academy (Srl) – Coordinator (Italy), Parole Ostili (Italy), ALL DIGITAL (Belgium), Fundatia EOS-Educating for an Open Society (Romania), Stiftung Digitale Chancen (Germany), and the Hellenic Open University (Greece).
In Greece, the AMeLiE project was coordinated by Prof. Achilles Kameas, Director of the DAISSy Research Group of HOU, and managed by Ms. Eleni Georgakakou, Senior Project Manager. The project team was composed of the researchers/ trainers, Ms. Monica Lillis and Ms. Zeta Tsigka, the technician, Mr. Anastasis Papadopoulos, and the administrative officer, Ms. Panagiota Zafeiropoulou.
For more information regarding the AmeLiE project and other project & activities of the HOU/DAISSy:
- Website: http://daissy.eap.gr/en/andhttps://www.amelieproject.eu/
- Platform: https://platform.amelieproject.eu/
- Facebook: @DAISSyResearchGroup,@AMeLiE.EU
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daissyresearchgroup/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/daissy_research
- Instagram: @daissy_researchgroup
- Email: info@daissy.eap.gr