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My Digital Way: Planning Digital Competencies Development
My Digital Way: Planning Digital Competencies Development
Content
Everyone’s digital youth work journey is unique.
The competence-based approach offers a structured yet flexible way to develop professionally, by recognising challenges, identifying opportunities, and planning realistic next steps.
In this final activity, you will reflect on the benefits and barriers of applying a competence-based approach in digital youth work, map out your priorities using the Digital Professional Development Matrix, and begin creating your own Professional Development Plan (PDP) focusing on digital competences.
By completing this activity, you will:
- Reflect on challenges and opportunities of competence-based development
- Identify and prioritise your digital competence needs
- Draft a personalised plan to support your professional growth in digital youth work
- Strengthen your ability to navigate change and lead your own development
Get inspired
Watch the video interview with Monika Kezaite - Jakniuniene to discuss possible challenges when applying competence-based development approach.
Source: This video as part of the #YOCOMO – an #ETS online course on competence-based development for youth workers.
Other resources - download and explore these tools:
- Digital Professional Development Matrix for Youth Workers
- Professional Development Plan (PDP) for Youth Workers: Focusing on Digital Competence Development
Take action
Task 1: Reflect on challenges and opportunities
Summarise one challenge and one opportunity from the video that resonates with your experience of digital competence development.
Write in a learning journal or discussion notes or record a short video/audio reflection or create a visual idea map.
Task 2: Use the digital Professional Development Matrix
Plot your current digital competence needs using the four-quadrant matrix (based on urgency and importance). This will help identify where to focus next.
Draw the matrix on paper and fill in competences or use a digital template or app to organise and save your matrix.
Task 3: Create your Professional Development Plan (PDP)
Using the PDP template or your own structure, write one or two SMART goals for your digital competence growth.
Use a printed or hand-written plan. or complete a digital worksheet.
Claim Open Badge recognition
Upon completing this activity, participants can earn a badge that recognises:
- Strategic reflection on digital competence development;
- Planning for meaningful learning in digital youth work;
- And commitment to long-term professional growth in digital contexts.
Who created this resource?
This activity is based on the YOCOMO MOOC video interview on competence-based development and supporting tools initially developed for the YOCOMO MOOC. The Cities of Learning Network adapted these resources to help youth workers reflect, plan, and act on their digital learning journey.
Next Steps
Use your PDP to guide your development path. Revisit your Digital Development Matrix regularly to reflect on progress.
Share your plan with peers or mentors and consider forming a learning partnership for mutual support.
Get activity badge
Planning My Digital Growth Get this badge
This badge is awarded to youth workers who have explored the challenges and potential of competence-based development and used structured tools to plan their digital competence development and learning.
To earn this badge, youth workers needed to:
- Reflect on barriers and opportunities for competence-based development
- Prioritise digital learning needs using the Matrix
- Set specific learning goals using a Professional Development Plan (PDP)
Skills and experiences gained
This badge is aligned to the following Digital Competences in Youth Work (DYW SNAC) areas:
- Self-reflection and lifelong learning – planning, monitoring, and reviewing learning
- Strategic digital development in organisations – applying frameworks to guide competence growth
- Learning and creativity with digital tools – using structured tools for innovation and development
- Digital facilitation – understanding and improving your facilitation practice through planning
This badge shows the earner’s ability to plan and manage their digital competence development using reflective and strategic tools. Cities of Learning Network partners value badge earners’ practical engagement and issue this badge after reviewing the submitted evidence.
Tasks
Task no.1
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
Complete at least two of the following tasks by providing evidence to earn the "Planning My Digital Growth" badge:
- Task 1: Reflect on challenges and opportunities for professional development in digital youth work
- Evidence 1: Upload a written, audio, or visual reflection on one challenge and one opportunity in applying a competence-based approach to develop digital competencies for youth work.
- Task 2: Complete the Digital Development Matrix
- Evidence 2: Upload a filled-in Matrix showing at least four prioritised digital competence needs
- Task 3: Create your Professional Development Plan (PDP)
- Evidence 3: Upload a completed PDP including one or two SMART learning goals tailored to digital youth work
Skills
#Using devices and digital tools
#Using digital tools to share ideas and experience with peers
#Identity growth of the youth worker
Organisers
Digital Youth Work Resource Hub
Awero not-for-profit organisation manages this platform and develops it together with leading educational organisations. The European Union's programme Erasmus+ granted co-funding for building the first version of this platform. Contact support@awero.org.
Platform
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