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Offender Learners and the Digital Divide

Offender Learners and the Digital Divide. Lisa Englebright 1 st November 2007. offenders are likely to have or experience multiple factors that contribute to their social exclusion :. Have a history of truancy from school (NACRO, 1989; Evans, 1992)

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Offender Learners and the Digital Divide

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  1. Offender Learners and the Digital Divide Lisa Englebright 1st November 2007

  2. offenders are likely to have or experience multiple factors that contribute to their social exclusion : • Have a history of truancy from school (NACRO, 1989; Evans, 1992) • Have had poor experiences of school and have few, if any, qualifications (Evans, 1992; Home Office, 2000) • Be Black (NACRO, 1989) • Have basic skills needs (NACRO, 1989) • Have little or no work or vocational training (Northern Ireland Prison Service, 2000) • Lack social skills (NACRO, 1989) • Have low self-image and see themselves as failures (NACRO, 1989; Evans, 1992; Home Office, 2000; Northern Ireland Prison Service, 2000) • Be unemployed with low levels of income and poor housing (NACRO, 1989; NACRO, 1993)

  3. Why offenders?Impact of information and communication technology 50% less likely to return To offending behaviour if Find employment (SEU) 90% of Jobs require Basic ICT skills (DfES) • 96% All Government services now online: • Health • Benefits • Employment • Transport • Education (Home Office)

  4. Technology moves on “When I came out…all the telephone boxes had been altered, you needed completely different coins for them. Trivialities of that sort, it’s all very unsettling until you get used to it. You’re all the time wondering what the next surprise if going to be, how you’re going to explain it to people when they give you a funny look because you don’t know.” Parker, T (1969) The Twisting Lane: Some Sex Offenders pp51-52

  5. “I am certainly not scared of new technology, but I am limited in skills … because I have not used the Internet, texting, digital cameras and a VLE. My Open University studies are limited as I miss out on student interaction. I also cannot contact my tutor at a moments notice. So whilst technology is advancing at a great speed, here in prison, it can feel as if the existence is rather like a time warp.” (3) Englebright, L (2006) A survey of female Offenders’ views and experiences of learning: Focusing specifically on information and communication technologies and online learning. NIACE. www.niace.org.uk/online

  6. “I feel as someone who has served a number of years that the world has advanced so much from a technological stand point. I have no clue how to use a mobile tune a video use a DVD access the internet prison does offer a good variety of edu but keeping those on the inside up to date with technology well it fails in a huge way.” (4) Englebright, L (2006) A survey of female Offenders’ views and experiences of learning: Focusing specifically on information and communication technologies and online learning. NIACE. www.niace.org.uk/online

  7. “I had hoped to undertake a masters degree through the OU whilst in prison, but have been unable to do so because of lack of internet access. I am currently studying a library assistant's course and am finding this a lot more difficult than it should be due to lack of Internet access. I have completed several computer courses, but have been unable to complete all of the units due to lack of Internet access… Lack of such knowledge or understanding is effectively excluding long term prisoner from many jobs and preventing rehabilitation.” (16) Englebright, L (2006) A survey of female Offenders’ views and experiences of learning: Focusing specifically on information and communication technologies and online learning. NIACE. www.niace.org.uk/online

  8. “The course on the open University that I would've preferred to do was not an option for me as the creative writing course was on-line. Therefore, I had to go for the distant learning course on "An introduction to social sciences" which was my second choice. Most of the writing courses which I desperately want to do are all on-line, I find this very frustrating as I really want to map out a career in writing and feel that no internet access is restricting for me and other students.” (18) Englebright, L (2006) A survey of female Offenders’ views and experiences of learning: Focusing specifically on information and communication technologies and online learning. NIACE. www.niace.org.uk/online

  9. Onlinev E • Overcoming social exclusion through online learning • E-enabling offender learning and skills

  10. Past

  11. Present

  12. Future

  13. Light at the end of the tunnel

  14. Any questions? lisa.englebright@niace.org.uk Lisa Englebright Project Officer Offender Learning and Skills ICT and Learning Team NIACE 20 Princess Road West Leicester LE1 6PT 07880 72 4054 www.offenderlearning.net

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