Welcome | Mapping the Maze | Learning Direct Database Services | Learning Direct Helpline Services | Metropolitan Area Networks and Wide Area Networks | University for Industry | Implementing the Vision Mapping the Maze: Learning Information for the 21st Century - the information agenda Dr. Alan Clarke BSc (Hons) MIPD MEd PhD - National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) Alan began his speech by drawing an alternative analogy to that of a maze. He saw Lifelong Learning more of a mixing bowl of different foods - unrelated and with no cook associated. The stirring was going on by a variety of folk all grabbing the spoon! There is a degree of anarchy involved - a child chewing the spoon rather than the food. Accompanied by a number of presentation slides (to be found in the appendix), Alan's speech turned to the contents of this mixing bowl and not databases as such. Alan discussed some of the current developments in the world of lifelong learning; the principal ones identified as: National Grid for Learning University for Industry Individual Learning Accounts University Initiatives Commercial Initiatives Technology However, there are probably more, including libraries for example. Some of these developments have a power and drive behind them while others such as technology take on a life of there own. Proposal for the national Grid for Learning have some bold statements of achievements attached although it does appear that references to adults were added on as a bolt on at the end rather than being an integral element from the start. Nevertheless, NGFL should have a dramatic effect in schools - all talking to each other, millions of children all emailing; all school leavers to have a good understanding of ICT (Information and Communication Technology). The University for Industry (UfI) is the most bold of steps offering tremendous opportunity for everyone in the country. It is nebulous and indeed needs to be. The ADAPT bids should enable people to decide themselves what UFI should be; to push it and make it work. It must be based on customers knowing what they are buying, knowing what they want. The challenge is for providers of opportunities is to match up to the customers' requirements. The concept of Individual Learning Accounts shifts funding from institutions to individuals. The purchaser is now the individual wanting a course there and then - why wait? Individuals will have smartcards enabling them to carry around their entire education and training life history - again a tremendous effect on the melting pot of information. Higher Education establishments are all trying to get involved in the provision of on-line courses. On example is in the Dearne Valley where there is however little take up so far. The OU has tens of thousands using email although the post will remain in use for a long time to come. Similarly there is a massive drive in Further Education - they simply must get involved in technology based learning. There is a push to put more text into electronic format and distribute it down the wire. In commerce there is a belief that all of this is inevitable and there are some very good initiatives around. ICT run a programme called Peritas which enables individuals and companies to sign up, download taster courses, send money and download the full course. This tends to be mainly IT training and at the more expensive end of the market. Scanning the Internet turns up a number of similar initiatives by MacMillan and the Virtual Training Library. Oracle have a product called the Learning Architecture - lots of packages that can be downloaded. Again this is the specialist high price IT market but it is clearly felt by commercial operators that this is a major world wide market. Every large company is setting up an INTRANET to deliver training; irrespective of government initiatives - they just do it. The UfI initiative may, however, drive these companies to open up their facilities to other users. Another initiative is the Virtual University set up by BA in order to deliver training all over the globe. Another example is Stockton-on-line where various agencies came together to wire up Stockton in order to deliver access to various modules of Adult Learning courses offered by different providers to 16 different centres. Technology grows and moves with a life of its own. It is thought that technology doubles in power and halves in price every three years - this is the cutting edge, independent of us all. Technological progress is currently focused on Cable and Digital transmission and the potential to use electricity to transfer and distribute information rather than copper cable. Government initiative must react to these changes. A number of predictions may be made: The Internet will be delivered into the home via the television and a set top box. Prices of computers will fall and their power will increase. There will be an increase in 'virtual communities' to complement face-to-face learning It is likely that it will be the private sector that will lead the way; spending more money in this area simply because they believe it is the right thing to do. There will be a major increase in the use of WWW resources. There will be no fixed boundaries between different sectors of the economy - for example between Further and Higher Education establishments and other training providers. Similarly, fixed boundaries between jobs will disappear and individuals will change jobs more frequently and have several employers including self employment. However, there are negative forces. A number of surveys have shown an alienation to ICT - people need convincing. Although 40% of homes have computers it is not known how many of these are simply used for games. Less than 10% have access to the Internet. Although people see ICT as important for the economic well being of the country they commonly do not see it as important to themselves as individuals There is a major cultural difference between classroom based teaching and ICT delivery. In a classroom all hear the questions and answers and benefit accordingly; not so if communicating via email. The design of screens is also a big problem. There will be very many new users and their needs must be accommodated. There are however, encouraging signs. There is a growing interest in ICT among the over 65s and there is an annual growth of 30-40% in the take up of CLAIT courses. A survey of who uses ICT shows that it tends to be the 'haves' and those who do not tend to be the 'have nots' but the trend again is encouraging - numbers of people having access to the Internet doubling in 18 months and there is a redressing of the gender imbalance with more growth among female users. In closing, Alan stressed that the imbalance between those excluded and included needs to be addressed and that as an organisation it is the aim of NIACE to be a force for inclusion. Following this speech Alan took a number of questions from delegates. Q: During the speech Alan had said that NIACE was a knowledge organisation. In what way is this so? A: Knowledge is very much in peoples' heads so NIACE aims to ensure that as much of this knowledge as possible is put onto a database for common access. Staff tend to stay with NIACE for many years and so knowledge increases. Q: How is it possible to predict what knowledge is likely to be required in 2-3 years time? A: There is a simple answer to this. It is not possible. Q: The way in which a database is made available varies but it tends to be via PCs, the Internet, Intranets etc. What can be done for those who are turned off by IT? A: The fear of computers is a key issue. We can make the interface as friendly and natural as possible but some people have a belief that computers are not for them. It is important to ensure that computers are situated in the most appropriate places. For example schools are very good sites for reaching mothers. It is also important to target particular events such as those organised by the University of the Third Age. Q: Given the explosion of on-line learning how much is genuinely innovative or is much of it a case of simply placing existing hard copy text in an electronic format? A: A great deal of this work really is innovative as much of it is research based. It is sometimes slow in developing because it is so innovative and expensive. Sometimes the quality of the materials may be poor but the technical achievement itself is very good. Design is difficult. Following questions Denny thanked Alan for his attendance in a busy schedule. He praised the work of NIACE, stressing its relevance to those present and urged people to get involved.