Examining social inclusion and social capital among adult learners in blended and online learning environments

New learning spaces and learning formats affected the learning and education of adults. In this respect, digitalisation is believed to reduce social exclusion. Moreover, adult education, social inclusion and social capital are positively related among adults. Therefore, this questionnaire study examines how adults who are engaged in online and blended learning perceived change in social inclusion and social capital. We conceptualised social inclusion as social participation and social connectedness, and social capital as bonding and bridging ties. In the case of blended adult learners, our results show positive perceptions of social inclusion and social capital. Those perceptions are less positive among the online adult learners. In both cases, non-natives experience a higher increase in social inclusion and social capital than natives. Hence, online and blended learning holds advantages for adults particularly non-natives: it enhances social inclusion and social capital. (DIPF/Orig.

Development of the DIS-scale (Diagnostic Illiteracy Scale) in order to reveal illiteracy among adults

Regarding figures of UNICEF (2008) 22% of the population of the industrialised countries is illiterate. As a result of illiteracy, citizens risk social exclusion in society. According to results of the EU High Level Group of Experts on Literacy (2012) prevention and decrease of illiteracy will be an important goal for future Europe. Still, according to the on-going problems of illiteracy, validated ‘tools’ are required to define if one risks illiteracy. The field of lifelong learning should be more equipped in order to diagnose literacy needs and develop literacy programs on a broad scope of the adult lifecircumstances. Therefore, we proposed a validated diagnostic scale, called the DIS-scale (Diagnostic Illiteracy Scale), concerning illiteracy in order to support the field of lifelong learning in prevention of the current illiteracy problem in nowadays European society

Leren en educatie in het sociaal werk

Over leren en educatie is de laatste tijd veel te doen, niet alleen in het onderwijs, maar ook als het gaat om leren en educatie bijvolwassenen. Begrippen als 'Bildung', 21th century skills en 'een leven lang leren' bijvoorbeeld, doen veel stof op waaien. In dit hoofdstuk willen we laten zien waarin het belang schuilt van die discussies voor sociaal werk en waarom het goed is dat je daar kennis van neemt, bijvoorbeeld om leren en educatie van mensen te kunnen faciliteren en organisere