Digital exclusion or learning exclusion? An ethnographic study of adult male distance learners in English prisons

dc.creator	Anne Pike
dc.creator	Anne Adams
dc.date	2012-12-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned	2015-07-20T22:06:36Z
dc.date.available	2015-07-20T22:06:36Z
dc.identifier	10.3402/rlt.v20i0.18620
dc.identifier	2156-7069
dc.identifier	2156-7077
dc.identifier	https://doaj.org/article/f85dc1566268405f9c219ea504782f70
dc.identifier.uri	http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/10626
dc.identifier.uri	https://doaj.org/article/f85dc1566268405f9c219ea504782f70
dc.description	Previous research has highlighted the value of technology to enhance learning. However, digital inclusion research has argued that many issues such as skills, access, usability and choice impact on the effectiveness of technology to enhance learning. The findings in this paper add to the debate by highlighting the importance of value and context. In particular, the value that institutions and individuals place on the role of further and higher distance learning in a prison can affect technology-enhanced learning in that context. This research identified that despite good IT skills and improved technologies, prison learners’ access and use of technology is hampered by conflicting priorities amongst the multiple organisations controlling prisoner activities. This can lead to a prison in which menial work is valued far higher than learning. Technology-enhanced distance learning, perceived by many to be a lifeline in a desolate environment, is heavily restricted in such prisons. The situation is thought to be deteriorating as the number of organisations involved increases and the Government's plans for “working” prisons gather pace.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	Co-Action
dc.relation	http://www.researchinlearningtechnology.net/index.php/rlt/article/view/18620/pdf_1
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/2156-7069
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/2156-7077
dc.rights	CC BY
dc.source	Research in Learning Technology, Vol 20, Iss 0, Pp 1-14 (2012)
dc.subject	social inclusion
dc.subject	digital inclusion
dc.subject	distance learning
dc.subject	higher education
dc.subject	prisoner reintegration
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Education (General)
dc.subject	L7-991
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.title	Digital exclusion or learning exclusion? An ethnographic study of adult male distance learners in English prisons
dc.type	Article