After the last NIACE event I wasn’t enthralled by the prospect of more of the same. Fortunately, me and Jon took away some valuable stuff linked to what we’re trying to do with We Share Stuff. Funny, really as what we’re doing is what most of the conference speakers seem to be hinting at. In an Adult Education sense, there seems to be two main issues. How do we train the teachers / tutors / deliverers in the ‘new’ technology and where is the money coming from? Herein lies the problem. Because it seems most of the providers out there have always stuck to the same methods, applied to the same funding streams, delivered the same content, ticking the same boxes and chasing the same targets. We’ve mentioned before how the Internet is disrupting traditional ways we learn things. Well, it’s also disrupting the way we teach and the way we fund the stuff too. There are many good examples of teaching / learning via new technology already out there. How we develop and define the networks where these examples can be shared by learners / teachers, is a key point. As these networks for learning / teaching develop, by their nature, they become more sociable and other stuff apart from learning / teaching, is shared. This is where the blurring of content / discussion happens, the whole ‘mash-up’ thing that is spawned by Internet noodling (I can’t think what this should be called!), doing its thing again. So suddenly we find these social / educational / community networks blending into something new and maybe raising the potential of funding from alternative streams… community, creative industry and educational etc.
My point is that the Internet is really shaking things up, and providers need to be tuned in to what is happening. From what I heard yesterday at the conference, i’m not sure how many providers really know what’s going on or how they can make the most from it.

An event took place in London on the 17th November, organised by NIACE and focusing on opening access to adults. While the event looked at media, in the broadest sense, all of the morning speakers were very keen to stress the importance of the digital role. There were many facts and figures, research undertaken, stressing the point that it’s about the people, not the technology. In all, plenty of things that we already know. The speakers made their points, the audience nodded in agreement and everyone went home.

I’m sorry to be critical as I’m really supportive of NIACE’s aims, but this whole conference approach really needs shaking up. I spoke to a number of participants at the conference each of whom commented that they hoped to learn something from the event, take back something they can use. The only participation came during the afternoon sessions (knowledge cafes!) but this was really limited. The event speakers did a round table discussion about their own projects. NIACE announced a new project that they have provisionally entitled ‘TV Club’ where adult learners, or groups gather to discuss a specific TV programme and discuss the production methods behind it. Rachel Thompson, Senior Development Officer for NIACE spoke about the possibility of including ‘websites’ in the project too…

The conference didn’t offer wi-fi access but then again, I was the only one slightly puzzled by this apparent ignorance of current technology uses, so it wasn’t really that surprising. Throughout the event, I was online using Twitter to update colleagues on key parts of proceedings and to find out further information on the speakers and their projects. A bonus of being in the Twitter world was that I was able to keep in with another ‘key’ conference that was also on that day. I was hoping to use it as an example of current social media, but the conference just wasn’t that ‘engaging’ and that was a big shame.

Overall I was quite concerned about the lack of knowledge on current digital trends and how they can be harnessed. Maybe this will be addressed at the Digital Inclusion conference, also hosted by NIACE next week. I’m hoping it will definitely be addressed at the Digital Mentor workshop happening today. Which would have been the cooler option to attend this week. But i’m glad I attended this conference. It’s one thing to get excited about advances in the tools and roles, but another thing entirely in recognising the gaps, pitfalls and barriers.

Thought it might be useful to do a quick blog on Adult Learners Week which runs from the 17th – 23rd May this year. I’ve been involved in adult education for nearly a decade now and i’m keen for the NBSE project to play a big part in harnessing social media for the benefit of these learners, amongst others.

Wouldn’t it be good if our project could be part of the celebrations next year?