Older adults and the digital divide: Community training to increase democratic participation

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) play a substantive and necessary role in daily life. They are increasingly becoming a necessity in order to access information resources. Participation in societies that use computer networks to distribute information is constrained by many factors. Lack of access to online information can seriously limit a person’s ability to make democratic decisions about the direction of their lives. To address this problem affordable training and access is an important factor in increasing participation in democratic societies

Online Student Conferences as Assessment Instruments: A Case Study of Knowledge Acquisition

A major change in teaching and learning in online courses is the student imparting their own knowledge on a subject to other students, lecturers and tutors and being assessed for such a task. An online student conference is discussed in this paper to illustrate this change and critically discuss and assess its potential as a student assessment instrument. This paper will discuss some current ideas on the methods and strategies for acquiring knowledge. It will then take the example of Curtin University’s Internet Studies online course Internet Communities and Social Networks and discuss the conference planning and engagement process. An examination of one student’s experience is given to show the potential ideal of successful knowledge acquisition which can take place. However, with this new way of learning come great advantages but also numerous disadvantages that further research will need to address. This case study shows that the ‘game’ of teaching and learning significantly changes when simulating real world experiences in online environments requiring much thought to the planning of learning material and tasks and management of students to stay engaged throughout the assessment process

Knowledge Management Practices On Large-Scale Construction Projects In An Australian Company: An Ethnographic Study

A three and a half year ethnographic study of knowledge management practices on Australian large-scale projects observed professionals at work in the design and construction within one company over one such project. This study shows how knowledge is captured, exchanged and transmitted on fast-paced construction projects, supported by interviews, descriptions and document analysis. It also discusses factors that impede and support knowledge management, and also takes into account issues of technology, cultural differences in valuing knowledge management, and the codifying of knowledge and relationships. This study concludes with a discussion of results and implications for both knowledge management in construction industries, and for undertaking ethnographic researc

Review of Key Competencies in the Knowledge Society Conference 2010: E-Learning and Computer Competency Research in the Age of Social Media

In September 2010, I attended the Key Competencies in the Knowledge Society(KCKS) conference, held as part of the International Federation for Information Processing World Computer Congress (WCC) in Brisbane, Australia. The WCC is held every two years in a host nation and was organised by the Australian Computer Society. The uniqueness of this conference is the mix of commercial and corporate sectors, non profit organisations, government departments, schools and academic researchers from many countries who present academic and commercial research. My key observation of the conference was that social media and technological devices are educational tools now becoming indispensable for learning and acquiring information and knowledge. With the large array of Web 2.0 tools currently in existence students are now authors of content in their learning (Gray et al., 2010). The issue of how to develop competent skills to use Web 2.0 tools in this fashion was the central concern of the researchers at the conference

The Power Gossip and Rumour Have in Shaping Online Identity and Reputation: A Critical Discourse Analysis

What is posted on the Internet about a person’s identity and reputation has the potential power to affect others’ perceptions of them. This study aims to understand and describe how this occurs by undertaking a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of the website Lamebook. It asks in what ways people’s online identity and reputation are shaped by others, or by one’s self, that may influence others’ opinions about them and how is this being done? The results suggest several characteristics of power relations are being exercised by people against others and themselves that harm their identity and reputation. These are achieved through gossiping and spreading rumours to persuade readers to believe harmful information about others and themselves. This study demonstrates the importance of being aware of how Internet users present themselves online and the potentially harmful consequences this has when viewed by a potentially large and unknown audience. The implications of this study advise Internet users to consider carefully potential negative outcomes to one’s identity and reputation from negative information and illustrate how others possess power to shape these in a harmful way

Supporting Older Students in the Research Journey: Assessing a Facebook Group

With many students over 40 years of age undertaking research studies, the need for support and connection with others is vital to research completion. Educational Facebook groups have a well-research history of what constitutes successful practice, but it is unknown if, and to what extent, those running such groups assess their performance for their members. This paper discusses a case study of an older students Facebook group and the challenge of conducting research to assess how it supports members. Examples from the study are provided to illustrate an example of such assessment, with the conclusion that older learners can be successfully supported and connected with others in their research journey

Creating older adults technology training policies: Lessons from community practices

Influencing government policy in adult learning areas requires consistent efforts in having findings noticed by educational policy makers. Submissions by Adult Learning Australia and researchers have called for unified educational policies and practices across Australia. This paper argues that, whilst it is important to address macro issues of policy formation, research into micro issues can also be valuable in assisting policy formation. Using information technology and communication teaching in a community centre, it considers analysis of informal daily policies and practices and what is working at the everyday level is important. Student experience examples at one centre teaching these skills to older adults are reported to show the types of policies and practices which maximised the long-term running of the centre and long periods of student retention

The role of computer tuition in community health: A grounded theory approach

This study describes the impact computer training has on the health outcomes of older adults at a community centre and its implications for influencing computer training practices. Our objective is to understand and link this groups self-reports of their health arising from attending lessons to improve the content and delivery of computer tuition. In this paper we first discuss our research questions and review the literature on the relationship between computer tuition and health. We then discuss our data collection method using ethnographic practices and our use of Grounded Theory to analyse our data. The theory that emerges is that the way computer tuition is practised does have a role in community health is evident from the disclosure of self-reports older adults make, as our results suggest. We then discuss our findings emphasising implications for education policies and practices for older adults undertaking computer training