NIACE 'Learning in a Digital World' event Wednesday, November 2, 2011 - 16:26

There are still over 8 million adults in the UK who have never used the Internet, with a high proportion of them being over 65, widowed or unemployed and with over half of them having a disability. Through workshops and forums, Learning in a Digital World explored ways of eliminating the ‘digital divide', by supporting adults to get online and preparing them for learning in a digital age.

Speakers, workshop leaders and delegates who attended the conference also addressed the following four key factors identified by NIACE members, which could affect how adults will learn in the future:

• digital inclusion;

• access to free learning resources;

• innovative ways of delivering learning through technology; and

• being ready for the next wave of technological changes.

As part of the conference, Peter Sampson the winner of the 2011 E-Guide Sharing and Sharpening Award, alongside the runner-up Ellie Swanson have been presented with their award by HRH, The Princess Royal. The award recognises the achievements of E-Guides who have made an outstanding impact on their organisations by sharing their knowledge and who have demonstrated a commitment to continually sharpening their e-learning skills. Since the launch of NIACE's E-Guides training programme in 2003, over 3,000 E-Guides have been trained across the country, who in turn have trained another 30,000 practitioners.

The conference coincided with Get Online Week (30 October - 6 November) - a campaign promoted by UK Online Centres, the BBC and Race Online, which aims to help thousands of people to get online for the first time. In its fifth year, the campaign is encouraging onliners to give an hour to inspire and help someone else use the internet, and offliners to spend an hour giving the internet a go at a local event.

Susan Easton, Programme Manager at NIACE, said:

"Digital exclusion compounds the social exclusion of marginalised members of our society, who are in danger of becoming even more isolated and disadvantaged in a world where we're moving towards digital-only services and where educators are increasing their online learning provision."

"We have a responsibility to make sure that every member of our society - regardless of background, income or age - has the opportunity to get online and to develop the digital skills they need to fully participate in society. We are taking important steps towards this through our ongoing digital learning work, through holding conferences like Learning in a Digital World, through our partnership with Race Online 2012 and through supporting campaigns like Get Online Week."

Contributors to the event included representatives from community and voluntary organisations, local authorities, learning organisations, the private sector and eminent speakers who will play an integral role in delivering learning in the future.