How can providers prepare adult learners for the digital world?
It’s fair to say that I use the internet a lot. I’ve been connected to it since 1995 and while I’ve taken some great inspiration from it, I’m aware that there are plenty of grubby areas too.
Thankfully, as I approach my second decade of connected life, much of what would distress me if I saw it online has been removed and perpetrators brought to justice. That doesn’t, however, mean the web is now a safe place. Like the streets of any city, there are plenty of safe areas, but in its widest sense, it’s still not a place where we’d want our children playing unsupervised. Of course, like the streets of any city, it’s not just children who are vulnerable.
Increasingly, e-safety is being seen as an issue that affects different generations. Last month, I blogged on how different generations could work together to learn e-safety, but on International Safer Internet Day today, it’s important to acknowledge that safety goes beyond even intergenerational learning. Employability, responsibility and culpability are just three words that come to mind when we think of how adults use the internet. From the leaders of our country downwards, the perils of tweeting before thinking have taken their toll, leaving in their wake a digital footprint that’s hard to erase. Drunken photos, accusations and angry rants also make up the footprint’s murky waters. Yet, increasingly, employers are looking to find a presence online. Looking for work doesn’t just mean searching online – it can mean being online too.
For adult learners this may be a daunting task, however, for those providing the learning it can be a scary place too. How can tutors, institutions and mentors prepare learners for the digital world if they themselves don’t understand it?
In March, NIACE will be publishing a guide to support providers in doing just this – looking at what the dangers are and how to prepare their policies and curriculum to address them. Schools have been thinking about e-safety for a number of years and adult providers are starting to catch up. It’s important we all work together, so that every day can be a Safer Internet Day.
Thanks Kevin. I think that you have hit a key issue here. Callers to Radio 4′s You and Yours yesterday revealed their fears of the Internet Unknown. It was so sad to see how their quite reasonable concerns were amplified out of all proportion because they clearly felt de-powered and alienated by new technology. All the opportunities of an online connected world were expressed as threats! What a waste of potential!
Not the fault of the callers – they have not had the opportunity to explore the issues and develop those survival skills in the digital jungle.
That digital divide is as deepened by these fears which is why that NIACE publication is so badly needed! Roll on March!