Wireless Outreach Networks (WON)

Project Status : Completed

[ Monitoring Surveys ] [ A guide to Setting up a Wireless Network ] [ Case Studies ] [ Learners' Voices ]

In 1999 funding was provided by the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE) now the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) to provide 1500 laptop computers with printers and scanners to local education authorities and to voluntary and community organisations for use in widening participation in education.

The “Adult and Community Learning Laptop Initiative” was jointly managed by NIACE and the Basic Skills Agency and over the next 3 years, the project proved to be extremely successful. It is estimated that over 37,000 learners were reached during the final year of the initiative (2002).

As a result of the success of the initiative, the DfES provided funding for a new initiative which has provided networks of wireless laptop computers for use in increasing access to learning through technology for socially and economically disadvantaged adults in England. This is known as the “Wireless Outreach Network” or “WON” and July 2002 saw the start of this new initiative. Local authority adult education services, colleges, and voluntary and community organisations were invited to submit expressions of interest to apply for capital funding to purchase networks of wireless laptop computers ranging from a minimum of 7 machines up to a maximum of 25.

NIACE received 1198 expressions of interest during this first round of the bidding process and these were then read by a panel of external readers. As a result, 633 organisations were invited to go on to round 2 of the bidding process and were asked to complete a more detailed proposal form. 483 organisations returned their completed proposal forms - each one being read by 2 different readers.

The final results were announced in December 2002. 268 organisations were successful with their bids for funding and were contacted to this effect by the Learning and Skills Council whose responsibility it was to distribute the funding. All equipment had to be purchased and invoices forwarded to the LSC for reimbursement by 31st March 2003.

An evaluation was carried out of the second stage of the bidding process and from evidence provided by organisations in their proposals, it is felt that the WON initiative could potentially have an impact on around 300,000 learners over the next 3 years.

Over the course of the next 3 years, WON projects will be monitored and evaluated by means of a questionnaire which will be sent out every 6 months. A selection of WON organisations have also been visited and case studies produced.

Guide to Setting up a Wireless Network

This guide, written by DirectSupport, was commissioned by the Department for Education and Skills in partnership with NIACE and is a result of the Wireless Outreach Network (WON) initiative. The guide is aimed at learning practitioners and their support staff in Adult and Community Learning who are considering the installation of a new wireless network or want to understand the implications in extending an existing network by using wireless components. It offers information to tutors and community development practitioners who may work in outreach venues, in learning access centres, or in small organisations.

Publications:

"Learning with Laptops - The impact of the Wireless Outreach Initiative on the community", Donovan, K, Essom, J and Sheldrake, S. NIACE, 2008.

This publication is a second volume of case studies produced after visits were made to a selection of WON-funded organisations between January and March 2006 and shows vividly the impact of the technology. Selected data have also been included from the final project monitoring report.

For a copy of this free publication, please contact Jackie Essom: jackie.essom@niace.org.uk

“Widening the World with Wireless Laptops - The impact of the Wireless Outreach Network initiative on the community”. Edited by Jackie Essom

This publication is the result of an initiative started in June 2002 and which was funded by the DfES to provide networks of wireless laptops aimed at increasing access to learning through technology for socially and economically disadvantaged adults in England. In order to share experiences and good practice of using the wireless laptops, the publication contains a selection of case study visits made to WON organisations, together with stories from individual WON learners telling how they have used the wireless laptops and the resulting impact made on their lives and learning.

For a copy of this free publication, please contact Jackie Essom, Project Officer, ICT and Learning: jackie.essom@niace.org.uk

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