Opening Learning

Where learners have access to computers and to the Internet, the opportunity for opening access to learning is increased enormously. There are many courses which can be studied completely online – and at your own pace. The existence of Web 2.0 means that more learning may happen informally than through formal accredited courses. But the mere existence of courses and other learning material and information online does not mean that learning will automatically happen. In fact, these learning resources are so various and abundant that they may be much more bewildering or inaccessible than conventional courses. Also, learners not only have to understand the content of what they want to learn, they also have to use new tools for learning. They may be familiar with these tools and have the technology to support the use of these tools. But they may not. Without support, without courses designed with particular learners in mind, access may be closed more firmly than ever before. Supporting distance learners in the 21st century may be even more challenging than in the past.

But what about learners who do not have access to computers or the Internet? The point of a course like this is not to exclude these learners and pretend that they do not exist. It is to encourage those responsible for supporting learning not only to use methods appropriate to their learners’ levels of technological access, but also to provide support for the use of new technologies for learning.

In the age of the Internet, opening learning is also about opening access to technology. And the tutor is simply one small part of a whole system that needs to do this. There are national challenges, such as adequate infrastructure for access to the Internet, affordable bandwidth, computers in schools. There are institutional challenges such as commitment to computer literacy training for all learners. But change can start even with individuals, particularly if they work with each other as part of a community.

Empowering learners starts with empowering yourself, and then others like you, and then … in ever widening circles.