Archive for May 2009
UK report on Future of Lifelong Learning (technological change) — via Ariadne
Hi all
Hope you are well. I just came across a summary of a report that may be of use to us. I haven’t looked at it yet but thought I would pass the link along:
UK‘s Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning, report n.2:
Technological change
This paper’s bland title belies its findings, which are relevant far beyond the borders of the UK where it was published by the Inquiry int the Future for Lifelong Learning (IFLL). Established in the UK in 2007 and sponsored by the National Institute of Adult and Continuing Education (NIACE), IFLL is the main advocacy body for adult learning in England and Wales and is “probably the largest body devoted to adult education in the world”. The IFLL paper ‘Technological change’ sets out by reminding us that most learning these days takes place outside formal educational programs, and calls for a rethink of the concepts of computer and information literacy. Although new technologies are being used increasingly outside work and learning environments, “we remain largely inept at responding to this at curriculum, pedagogical, administrative or financial levels. If this situation remains, then formal education is likely to become less relevant for the everyday lives and learning of many people”.
The paper is not saying that lifelong learning will cease to be, but that such learning in future may be “increasingly disconnected from the formal provision of education”. It questions the appropriateness of the term “literacy”, suggests a need to redefine the term “digital exclusion” and appeals for a move beyond associating exclusion or disadvantage with “socioeconomic, generational and geographical determinates”. However unpredictable the long-term nature of technological change might be, “lifelong learning will be shaped by the increasing power and adaptability of the web and the applications that it supports”. Contact: NIACE, ph: +44 (0)116 204 4200/4201; fax: +44 (0)116 285 4514; email: enquiries@niace.org.uk; http://www.niace.org.uk/
A PDF of the report is at: http://www.niace.org.uk/lifelonglearninginquiry/docs/IFLL-TechnologicalChange.pdf
Ariadne
Dr Ariadne Vromen | Senior Lecturer
Department of Government and International Relations
School of Social and Political Sciences
FACULTY OF ARTS
The University of Sydney | NSW | 2006 | Australia |
Room 289 Merewether Building H04
p: 61 2 9351 6602 | f: 61 2 9351 3624
e: a.vromen@usyd.edu.au |
Sorry not to have contributed much recently.
I like the way the discussion is developing. There is as far as I am aware little survey data about use of ICT for the purposes of citizenship education in schools. I would like to respond positively to Brian’s specific suggestion that he and I work something up on the school dimension. We can easily have a face to face meeting and then add some comments to the blog for all to see.
Ian
Feedback on “Digging into Data” loi
We have received some valuable feedback and what looks like a green light on preparing a full proposal for the Digging into Data challenge.
See the official response.
Are any members of our group familiar with the previously funded project mentioned in the comments? Perhaps we could have a comment discussion on how we might be able to distinguish ourselves from that project, as well as some of the other issues raised by the reviewer(s).
Looking forward to our upcoming meetings in Seattle.
Cheers,
Mike
