The Third Transnational Meeting in Brussels last week was fantastic. Not only did we as a project have a great day of meetings and discussion, but we also strengthened our continued friendships amongst the group and had a very worthwhile visit to Mol prison.
It is great to see that all project partners understand the development and use of AR and digital technologies for offender learners in prison institutions and the benefit that this brings.
There was a group discussion around creating resources for the specific partner institutions. There was a prolonged discussion regarding the security and locking down of the iPads. We need to ensure the iPads can only access the Zappar App and Zapcodes/resources.
We reviewed the staff and learner user guides and packs. They were deemed appropriate and well written. These had been trialled in the UK pilot prison with staff and prisoners who thought the packs were clear and well written. There has also been lesson plans and schemes of work developed and written. Potential developing resources for operational staff was discussed.
Partner Updates:
SCG/HMPPS
Richard explained about the pilot prison HMP Hewell is to close. This is due to HMPPS cost cutting. We have been able to gain support from two further West Midlands prison. HMP Swinfen Hall is a young offender institution. HMP Featherstone is a category C adult training prison. Meetings with both are to take place in March 2020. CPIP
Diana outlined that some Romanian prisons have been red flagged by the justice commission due to in humane treatment and general performance of prisons. Next steps are to see what types of resources their pilot institution would like so we can begin development of these for the project work. EHCB
Ugur and Selim updated the situation with Everberg prison moving to new premises which has been a challenge, but still involved in the proposed pilot work. Everberg are open to the idea of digitalisation of prisons and the security settings of the devices and hotspot internet access. Mol prison are the decision-making authority in Belgium and it was good we are to visit tomorrow and understand more the pilot process which will take place for the rest of this project year. They will see what kinds of resources would be suitable to support their learners at the prison.
BIB
Alina and Irina discussed signed agreement between Biblioteca Judeteana Antim Ivireanu Valcea and the Craiova Detention Center (August 2019). Craiova Detention Center suggested some specific topics for their offender learners such as: friendship, self-esteem, truth, lies and understanding, getting rid of negative thoughts and mental health. Richard at SCG created AR resources for these themes, with 4-5 videos per resource to support the specific activities. Biblioteca Judeteana Antim Ivireanu Valcea has translated the videos, added translation subtitles and repurposed the resource posters for use in the Craiova Detention Center. These have been created in Zapworks so that they can trigger to the specific subtitled videos and be used by the learners in Craiova.
Bib had also translated and adapted in Romanian the Intellectual Output 4 - Training package for delivery to Offender Learners, which contains an overview of Augmented Reality, accessing and using Zappar AR system, triggering the AR resources from Zap codes/images on the range of learning cards and posters for specific topics and uses.
Project actions and next steps:
It was agreed that SCG and HMPPS will need to document the security settings and lock down process for the iPads and internet hot spot for pilot at the UK prison institutions, so that the project partners can recommend and circulate the documented processes to their pilot institutions.
All partners would discuss specific resources for each institution and choose specific resources already created for Induction that would be suited to each institution (where applicable).
Prison Visit
The project team visited Mol Youth Prison, Brussels (1hr 15 mins journey from meeting venue). The project team had a great presentation from the Manager of Mol prison and we had a tour of the institution, looking at communal areas, teaching rooms and living quarters for the youth offender learners. Project team had an opportunity to ask questions and see first-hand what the learners experience. Very useful for the project and how the resources may have impact.
A great few days working in Brussels and meeting up with all the project team and excited on the next steps of the project as it develops.
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