Welcome!
I am Lotte, a dedicated PhD researcher at imec-SMIT, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, specializing in data literacy, digital youth work, and digital inclusion.
What are the issues?
| Area | Main Challenges |
|---|---|
| Data Literacy | Power imbalances, lack of skills, anxiety, educational gaps |
| Digital Youth Work | Practical transfer issues, youth workers’ digital skills gap, engagement and inclusion, resources |
| Digital Inclusion | Internet/device access inequality, socioeconomic disparities, risks of exclusion, policy gaps |
These challenges highlight the need for integrated approaches that combine skill development, infrastructure investment, inclusive policies, and support for youth workers to foster equitable digital participation for all young people.
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- Challenges with Data Literacy
Asymmetric Power Dynamics: There is a significant challenge in addressing the power imbalance in data access and understanding, especially among youth. Many young people face difficulties in navigating big data environments, which can limit their ability to participate fully in digital society.
Lack of Skills and Anxiety: Youth workers and young people often experience anxiety and lack sufficient digital literacy skills to engage effectively with data-driven technologies and platforms.
Educational Gaps: There is a need for more comprehensive education and training programs to improve data literacy, especially tailored for youth and youth workers.
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- Challenges with Digital Youth Work
Practical Limitations: Digital youth work faces practical issues such as difficulties in transferring traditional youth work activities to digital formats effectively.
Digital Literacy of Youth Workers: Many youth workers themselves lack adequate digital skills, which limits their ability to innovate and use digital tools effectively in their work.
Engagement and Inclusion: Ensuring meaningful engagement of all youth, including marginalized groups, in digital youth work remains a challenge.
Resource Constraints: Limited access to technology and digital infrastructure can hinder the implementation of digital youth work initiatives.
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- Challenges with Digital Inclusion
Access Inequality: Many families and young people do not have reliable internet access or digital devices at home, creating a barrier to developing digital skills.
Socioeconomic Disparities: Digital inclusion varies significantly with socioeconomic status, geography, and other demographic factors, leading to digital divides.
Digital Exclusion Risks: Youth who are digitally excluded face risks in employment, education, and social participation, which can perpetuate cycles of disadvantage.
Policy and Support Gaps: There is often insufficient policy support and targeted programs to address digital exclusion comprehensively.
Research Goals
My research goals focus on advancing understanding and practices around data literacy, digital youth work, and digital inclusion. Specifically, her work aims to:
- Explore how data and artificial intelligence (AI) are integrated into educational settings, particularly in Dutch-speaking schools in Flanders and Brussels. She conducts interviews with teachers, school directors, and coordinators to understand their experiences and challenges with data and AI in classrooms.
- Promote digital inclusion by investigating how young people engage with digital technologies and media, ensuring that youth from diverse backgrounds have equitable access to digital literacy skills and safe online environments.
- Contribute to the development of educational tools, policy briefs, and training programs that support teachers and youth workers in fostering data literacy and media literacy, helping them navigate the complexities of AI, algorithms, and online safety.
- Engage actively with research communities and stakeholders in digital youth work to share insights, best practices, and policy recommendations that enhance digitally inclusive youth work.
- Overall, her research aims to bridge academic knowledge with practical applications in education and youth work, empowering educators and young people to critically engage with data and digital technologies in an inclusive and informed manner.
Research
Digital inclusion
Media Literacy
Development
Publications
Here are some published reports and articles by Lotte Vermeire related to her research:
“A Signal-Based Approach to Inclusive Digital Youth Work” (2024)
This article examines inclusivity in digital youth work initiatives that use and discuss media and technology. It focuses on how digital youth work can be made more inclusive.
Work on DataBuzz and Digital Youth Work Projects
Lotte has contributed to the DataBuzz project and various digital youth work initiatives, focusing on data literacy in formal and non-formal education.
More details on SMIT research page
“Practice makes Perfect? Digital youth work in Flanders”
An article discussing digital youth work practices in Flanders, highlighting challenges and lessons learned.
Inclusive Data Literacy: Lessons from a Data Literacy course in Cape Town, South Africa
A research work co-authored by Lotte Vermeire focusing on data literacy education in Cape Town, South Africa.
Inclusive Digital Youth Work (Report)
A report discussing the proactive use of digital media and technology in youth work to foster inclusion.