The Digital diviide

I've been asked to produce a report of the Web 2.0 day for reading room colleagues so here it is in bite-sized chunks.

The first speaker was Ros Smith who was involved in producing a report called 'Exploring the learner's perspective on E-learning. She talked about how the tools and techniques of social computing (such as using facebook) could be used to change the way we learn. VLEs (Virtual learning environments) are a means for lecturers and students to communicate remotely, for example lecture notes might be posted there and a bulletin board for student's questions, and there might be internet resources suggested by the university. Other examples of e-learning include using digital image manipulation software and using instant messaging. Students doing teacher training placements were able to keep a blog to record their experiences and at the same time stay in touch with their fellow students and support each other. We saw a film of two students telling how they had grasped the new technologies (despite initial reservations) and now would not be without it.

Ros also spoke of the dangers of a digital divide emerging. Some students arrive at university knowing well versed in such technology, others are complete beginners. Lecturers casually tell students to produced a powerpoint presentation without any guidance in how to do it. We need highly resourced spaces to foster this new learning. Some institutions block access to particular forms of social software even though students are using it as part of their learning and not just their social life. Sometimes the tutors are not au fait with the technologies.

If anyone wants to know more, I have a booklet and a CD-rom you may borrow.