The Croatian Reading Association (CroRa) is a national association that promotes literacy and holds an annual professional conference on September 8, date of the International literacy day. Goal of the conference is to gather professionals and initiate discussions in Croatian society on literacy and the importance of reading.

Jeroen Clemens will represent Elinet and give a presentation as a special guest.

This year, in cooperation with the Croatian Library for the Blind and Školska knjiga (publisher), professional conference Digital literacy and strategies for digital inclusion, will take place (live or online, depending on the epidemiological situation), on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 in Zagreb.

In the last few decades, in modern society, we have been witnessing many significant changes in reading and writing initiated by the digital revolution. Since digital world is becoming more and more dominant over physical world it is important to pay attention to digital inclusion, so that every member of society, including those in unfavourable positions, would have access to informational and digital technologies.

Theme of the conference is traditionally directed towards connecting literacy experts on all levels from kindergartens and school, to universities, families, libraries and whole communities. The following question should be answered at the conference:

1. Will digital technologies make it easier for those excluded from the learning process, or will they actually raise new, even bigger barriers?
2. Are the increasing fears, that the use of digital technologies as tools for communication, shopping, Civic engagement and learning, will make bigger, more serious gaps between certain parts of society, justified?
3. In what way should we participate in the development of digital economy and society?

Jeroen Clemens will give a presentation as a special guest. He is an expert in the field of digital literacy and language teaching, independent consultant, coach, researcher, teacher and speaker who lives in Netherlands. His presentation will have as title Digital literacy: a challenge for all of us. See Long Abstract here.
He is also representing the ELINET Association, a network of European literacy professionals, being chairperson of the Thematic Working Group Digital Literacy. This years ELINETs special research project is “Enhancing Digital Literacy Skills: Good Practices for Early and Primary Years Education” for 2020/21. There is still a Call out for GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLES Enhancing digital literacy skills in early and primary years’ education. See Call here.