This is a liveblog of a keynote address on
Digital Life SkillsStuart is Deputy Director at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills
He's here:
www.linkedin.comDigital Life skills are one of the pillars of digital inclusion. I'm going to talk about the developments of 'online basics' - implementing Estelle Morris' review
The independent review of ICT skills, commissioned March 2009 by John Denham when he was secretary of state.
Acknowledgement there had been a significant reduction in number of adults taking ICT courses. At the time the figure was 1.6 million adults in England, not needing digital life skills at a basic level.
Adults need to be able to access content and support and the resources need to be flexible.
Graham Walker mentions Race Online for 2012
bit.ly #digifuture
Recommendations: the government should invest in some core resources and delivery infrastructure so adults could take their first steps with computers and the internet. Flexible resources - formal and informal contexts. Support from mentors, friends and family.
The best routes appear to be informal for those without skills.
Rt; @amandagore Three pillars of digital participation: inclusion, digital life skills, digital literacy, Stewart Purvis #digifuture
Working towards some form of entitlement to support for the adults without digital skills. Highlighting some of the groups socially and digitally excluded.
"We're so joined up we use the same terminology!" audience alomost chuckles...
Creating the demand and interest in digital life skills is key, when that has been created provision must be place for the people who have had their interest stimulated. They have to go-ahead to create some pilots for online basics, starting in January and running through to March 2010.
Now talking about the process of generating pilots with Becta. There needs to be critical mass he says.
we're looking to try and ensure once the interest is created there is capacity to fulfill demand - Stuart Edwards BIS #digifuture
Third liveblog by @warriorgrrl_ going up now at
bit.ly 'digital life skills' #digifuture
Having a learning revolution depends on people being able to access to digital skills.
What is online basics? The infrastructure will be a dedicated website, a core set of online learning modules to support adults.
Stuart Edwards of BIS talking about the imminent launch of Online Basics #digifuture
Online basics - and they see the role of volunteers and mentors being critical [yeah right]
Volunteers, families, mentors, local authority figures are essential to provide support to people learning digital skills.
'a learning revolution depends on people being able to access things digitally - online basics should be accredited' BIS #digifuture
Digital switchover in Devon mentioned?
Online Basics will piloted in up to 70 centres in Barnsley, Oldham, Gloucester, Devon and London #digifuture #yam
Priority groups reiterated - unemployed, people with disabilities, the elderly. The pilot will target these groups, testing out some of the links with wider groups in communities e.g. JobCentre Plus.
[He's talking about a very top-down approach and about 'targeting groups' - this sounds quite old-style to me - although they do seem to be doing a few pilots with people like Barnsley]
Stuart Edwards at #digifuture talking about the online basics pilot - working with unions, job seeker plus and LA's.
Role for community learning champions in the pilot, hoping for support from NIACE.
Stuart Edwards of BIS referencing Totally Online Barnsley #digifuture #digibarns
Dept B,I&S don't seem too interested about building new infrastructures, or challenging why current ones aren't working #digifuture
Can't hear this keynote from Tanya Hudson - hold the mic up!! #digifuture
Tanya Hudson, the BBC's first ever Head of Media Literacy, talking about the Corporation's role in driving digital participation #digifuture
Tanya Hudson, BBC - check out
www.bbc.co.uk #digifuture
'What is the BBC's role in the digital world? we believe getting connected is not enough - key is working in partnership' #digifuture
#digitalbritain #digifuture liveblog at
bit.ly via @brian_condon
Don't you just love it when the tech doesn't work at a conference about getting more people online? #digifuture
Oh - @wossy is part of this video about the BBC's new media literacy website! Nice work, sir. #digifuture
The Internet has transformed Kirsty Young's life because she can buy lip gloss online! ;-) #digifuture
And the fourth #digifuture keynote live blog is here:
bit.ly Tanya Hudson, head of Media Literacy at the BBC
Talking about interactivity of Dr Who on BBC with the press the red button feature. @sizemore, do you press the red button? #digifuture
Tanya Hudson says Doctor Who can help to drive audiences online #digifuture
Back to the main liveblog now at
bit.ly questions from the floor #digifuture
Interesting the BBC chose to focus on shopping and lip gloss for women online and tech stuff for the men. Not very enlightened! #digifuture
The BBC's big stars talking about media literacy vid=disappointing,Kirsty Young's interview cut to fluff about lipgloss&shopping #digifuture
John Nethercott asking whether any information on scattered rural communities and digital participation #digifuture
