DofE participants lead the way
The next generation of DofE participants are using a revolutionary new online system to complete the leading achievement award for young people in the UK.
eDofE, the DofE’s new online system has transformed accessibility and created an online experience for all DofE participants. The specially designed dynamic database and web content management system is a tool that reflects modern expectations. eDofE is an online electronic version of a record book, the biggest change in the DofE for over 50 years and its given participants the opportunity to record the evidence of what they’ve done and achieved in a more exciting, extensive and varied way.
The system gives Leaders the ability to view and approve evidence online after participants have captured their achievements using photos, video, blogs and more, using technology to its best advantage. Their Leader still has final approval on sectional and their achievement of a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
For DofE Leaders and Managers it allows them to manage their Groups more effectively and provide easy access to resources, help and reporting.
For hard to reach DofE groups the new system can be used to support rehab programmes and create improved engagement as the system is more interactive when not in a group environment.
Jodie Birkinshaw from Doncaster and Philip Henderson from Scotland are celebrating being the first participants to achieve their Bronze Award using eDofE.
Jodie Birkinshaw, 15 said: “The advantage of completing my DofE through eDofE was that it was quick and easy to use. I enjoyed using eDofE because it was easy to keep track of my evidence and progress and it was also good because you can personalise the home page. Uploading evidence was very easy - once my Leader showed my how to do it. I would recommend eDofE to other young people, because it is quick and easy to keep track of your evidence and progress because you can see how far you are away from finishing your DofE programme.
“When I found out that I was the first DofE participant to achieve their Award using eDofE I was shocked and it took me days to actually realise that I was the first! I was so grateful to the Leaders of my DofE group and family members who had pushed me to complete this. I am definitely going on to do my Silver DofE.”
Philip aged 15 said: “eDofE was a lot more convenient and saved a lot of time. The layout was simple to follow. It saved time and avoided having to get the Supervisor’s signatures etc which would have been quite a hassle for me. Also, I could communicate with my Leader through this and this was very helpful. The system was very easy to use and to follow.”
DofE Chief Executive Peter Westgarth said: “Congratulations to everyone involved in this innovative project. DofE participants and Leaders who have used the new system have really benefitted from this technology. We have spent considerable investment in establishing the future way forward for the Charity and programme; eDofE is central to this. Young people have a greater expectation of what is available to them from a technological perspective and the DofE has developed eDofE to meet this and to ensure it continues to be relevant to today’s young people.”