1.1 Digital Participation
Until very recently many organisations concerned with adult education and lifelong learning were reluctant to embrace online learning because of the cost involved in learners getting access to laptop or desktop computers. This issue of equity has not completely gone away but the advent of tablets and smart phones and the increasing level of smart phone ownership has prompted a new approach. Free, online courses can now be accessed by a tablet or smart phone, as long as, you have an internet connection. In a short space of time, digital has become an ever present phenomenon in our lives. The question now is: how to support learners to develop the skills and confidence to thrive in this new digital world?
You might like to do a quick survey amongst friends and colleagues. How many of them use Google or YouTube on a regular basis? Have there been occasions when they’ve developed a new skill by watching a video or locating some frequently asked questions on the topic they were struggling to understand?
Our experience is that it’s hard to find people who never Google. It has become commonplace to use online platforms like Google and YouTube to check assumptions, ascertain facts and learn new skills. For most of us this type of self-directed learning is such a part of everyday life that we don’t even think of it as learning. It sits in a different place from being a student, taking a course or working for a qualification.
This is important because you can expect many of your learners to have some digital skills but they may not recognise the value of the skills they already have. It is also important to realise that digital skills used for online shopping or searching YouTube are a valuable base to start from, when improving digital online skills. They can then be extended and developed in new areas in order to become an effective learner.
1 A new digital divide?