International, individual consultancy to provide technical assistance in developing and piloting digital literacy resources for children aged 9-11, their parents and teachers

UNICEF Montenegro is looking for International, individual consultancy to provide technical assistance in developing and piloting digital literacy resources for children aged 9-11, their parents and teachers

Terms of References - International, individual consultancy to provide technical assistance in developing and piloting digital literacy resources for children aged 9-11, their parents and teachers

UNICEF Montenegro

1. Background and Context

Montenegrin campaign End Violence Online ( http://www.unicef.org/montenegro/campaigns_29360.html) is based on the nationally representative research about children's and parents' online experiences. This research (https://www.unicef.org/montenegro/campaigns_29362.html) was conducted within the Global Kids Online research network developed by the UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti in collaboration with London School of Economics. The objective was to support evidence based policy making that will ensure that children's rights are safeguarded in an inclusive and participatory digital society.

Montenegrin research reveals that 79% of children aged 9-11 use internet in Montenegro. Children at this age have the weakest digital skills and most need for support. 1 in 2 said not to feel safe online and not to know what to do when someone treats them online in a way that they don't like.

For these reasons, within the End Violence Online campaign, NETprijatelji (NETfriends) app was developed for children aged 9-11 and it is now available as a website as well (www.netprijatelji.me).

NetFriends is an educational role-play game, which takes children through 10 real life scenarios and makes them learn how to recognize, prevent, stop and report violence. It can be used as an innovative tool in schools and help every teacher, regardless of his/her digital skills, to promote a culture of non-violence and mutual respect and teach children how to be safe and preserve privacy in the digital age.

Within the End Violence Online campaign, we want to develop additional resources for the use of the NetFriends game in the classroom with the aim of developing digital competencies of children aged 9-11. So, apart from the game which is now available online and which is focused on teaching children how to be safe online, additional digital literacy resources need to be developed for children aged 9-11 to learn to find, use, share, create and critically assess a variety of media contents.

In addition, teachers need adequate support to acquire digital competencies themselves and adopt digital pedagogy in order to be able to teach digital literacy children effectively. For this reason, we want to develop digital literacy resources - lessons plans and activities for teachers, some of which follow the NetFriends game scenarios made for children aged 9-11 so that they can use the game in class. Also, a guide for teachers for using these resources will be made and delivered to them as part of their training/preparation for teaching the programme.

A nationally representative survey on teachers' knowledge, attitudes and practices will be conducted by mid 2018. Its findings can be used to guide the development of the digital literacy resources and trainings for teachers.

Finally, 1 in 2 parents in Montenegro want to learn how to support children to be safe online in the child's school. For this reason, we want to develop digital literacy resources which schools can provide to parents of children aged 9-11.  

These new digital literacy resources, some of which will follow the NetFriends game, will be piloted within the primary school curriculum to test their impact. With the help of a research agency (pre and post test with a control group) and based on the advice from the expert-consultant who worked on developing these resources, their impact on children's digital competencies will be assessed. Based on the results of the assessment of the pilot initiative, a final version will be made to be included as part of the primary school curriculum for every child.

This work is a part of the partnership established within the End Violence Online campaign between UNICEF, Ministry of Education and Telenor Montenegro.

2. Purpose and Objective

 The purpose of the consultancy is to provide technical assistance in designing, piloting and assessing the impact of digital literacy resources for children aged 9-11, teachers and parents.  

Some of these digital literacy resources for children and teachers will be related to the NetFriends game, so that it can be used effectively in classrooms.

Assessment of the impact of these resources on children's digital skills will be done with the help of a research agency, but the consultant/expert working on developing these resources will work closely with the research agency to help them design an adequate research toolkit to assess the impact of these resources on children's digital competencies.

3. Methodology and Technical Approach

A detailed work plan with time frame will be developed by the consultant and agreed with UNICEF Communication Officer.

A national task force will be established and it will include teachers from primary schools where the programme will be piloted, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Education and UNICEF. The consultant will consult with the local teachers regarding the ideas for digital resources in order to ensure that the resources developed can be effectively used in Montenegrin primary schools.

Also, UNICEF will hire a video production consultant to support the rolling out of the programme and teaching children and teachers how to use video and cut-editing software effectively in the classroom.

Finally, the consultant will work with the researchers of the research agency which will be hired by UNICEF to conduct pre and post testing with a control group in order to assess the impact of the developed digital literacy resources on children's digital competencies within the piloting of the programme.

The methodology will include desk review, written inputs, data analysis, writing and consultations

with the local teams - task force, consultant for video production and UNICEF Communication Officer.

The Consultant will work from home most of the time and will have one field visit to Montenegro to train the teachers on the use of the developed resources.

4. Activities and Tasks

• Becoming acquainted with the NETFriends game - English translation of the game scenarios will be provided by UNICEF (1 day)
• Becoming acquainted with the Montenegrin context - Global Kids Online research reports related to children, parents and teachers and internet in Montenegro will be provided to the consultant, as well as relevant documents related to the primary school education and the ongoing education system reform (3 days)
• Developing digital literacy resources for children, teachers and parents which are related to the use of the NETFriends game in classrooms and which involve a variety of interactive activities and the use of digital media in classroom (9 days)
• Developing digital literacy resources for children, teachers and parents which are not related to the NETFriends game and which involve a variety of interactive activities and the use of digital media in classroom (16 days)
• Developing a guide for teachers for using these resources (3 days)
• Developing and conducting a training of teachers to prepare them to use the newly developed digital resources in classrooms and teach the programme within the pilot initiative (5 days)
• Working with the research agency to develop the research toolkit to be used for assessing the impact (pre and post-testing with a control group) of the digital literacy resources on children's digital skills (3 days)

5. Deliverables and Timeframe

• Digital literacy resources for children, teachers and parents which are related to the use of the NETFriends game in classrooms and which involve a variety of activities and the use of digital media in classroom are developed in consultation with local primary school teachers, video production consultant, Ministry of Education and UNICEF and delivered to UNICEF (June 1, 2017)
• Digital literacy resources for children, teachers and parents which are not related to the NETFriends game and which involve a variety of activities and the use of digital media in classroom are developed in consultation with local primary school teachers, video production consultant, Ministry of Education and UNICEF and delivered to UNICEF (June 1, 2017)
• A guide for teachers for using these resources developed in consultation with the local primary school teachers, video production consultant, Ministry of Education and UNICEF and delivered to UNICEF (June 1, 2017)
• Training of teachers to prepare them to use the newly developed digital resources in classrooms and teach the programme within the pilot initiative developed and conducted with teachers who will pilot the programme (August 1, 1017)
• Research toolkit to be used for assessing the impact (pre and post-testing with a control group) of the digital literacy resources on children's digital skills developed in cooperation with the research agency (August 1, 2017)

Duration: in total 40 days during the period January 20, 2018 - August 20, 2018

6. Management and Organisation

Management: The Consultant will be supervised by the UNICEF Communication Officer.

Organization: International Consultant, individual, will be required for this consultancy.

Schedule: This assignment will commence on January 20, 2017.

7. Qualifications and Background

The Consultant is expected to have the following qualifications to complete the task successfully:

• PhD in Communication Science - thesis related to children and media
• More than 10 years of academic research about children and media which include participation in international research initiatives on media/digital literacy of children

• More than 10 years of teaching at university about children and media and communication science

• Authorship of scientific articles, research monographs and other scientific publications on media/digital literacy - published internationally
• Experience in developing, piloting and assessing digital literacy resources for children, teachers and parents
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Previous experience of work in Montenegro in relation to children and internet is an asset
• Previous experience of collaboration with UNICEF is an asset
• Ability to analyse data quickly and communicate effectively about it in English
• Ability to present data in an interesting and effective way to different audiences
• Excellent computer skills including MS Office
• Highly organized, detail-oriented with ability to work quickly and efficiently as part of an international team

8. Budget and Remuneration  

• Consultancy fee

The candidates are requested to submit their financial offer consisting of fee for the services to be provided, travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

The Consultant's fee may be reduced if the assignments/deliverables are not fulfilled to the required standard. In a case of serious dissatisfaction with the consultant's performance the contract may be terminated in line with UNICEF procedure in such matters and as spelled out in the Contract.

• Payment schedule

The payments will be made upon successful completion of the deliverables and submission of invoices.

•  Recourse

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.