New Ways To
Learn
2. The emergence of new learning
The case examples collected here illustrate the emergence
of new ways to learn, as well as some of the practical
barriers experienced by individuals and institutions.
Schools
In schools, individual projects such as The Netherhall
School are using IT to improve the way children learn. Such
projects are obtaining remarkable results in ways that are
gaining national and even international attention.
Further
education
In further education, many colleges lack the resources to
go beyond the basic use of IT for coursework. However, the
University for Industry (UfI) is carrying out an imaginative
initiative to provide radically new ways of offering
lifelong learning. If the current UfI pilot in Sunderland is
successful, the concept will be implemented nationwide.
 
Lifelong learners
The current generation of lifelong learners has had to
overcome considerable barriers to succeed. Successful
lifelong learners tend to be exceptional individuals.
Community initiatives
Throughout the UK and worldwide, community-based
initiatives are finding new ways to provide basic
skills and access to technology, often through self-help
and skill sharing. The Huddersfield project is one example
targeted specifically at groups which are under-represented
in conventional education.
Global development
Examples of the changes noted here can be found
worldwide. Different countries are proceeding at different
rates: the US is particularly advanced, not least because of
the wide availability and low cost of the Internet.
Industry
Commercial organisations are finding new solutions to the
problems of lifelong learning, which is proving a necessity
to keep skills up to date, despite the fact that individuals
are finding it harder to spend time away from work to learn.
Not surprisingly, companies in the technology,
telecommunications and media sectors are at the forefront.
Organisations such as Cisco, Microsoft and the BBC are all
pioneering innovative solutions to their own training
problems, which they are also making available to
others.
©1999 Mediation Technology
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