e-learning vision promises broad scope

The Government recently announced its vision that e-learning should become a standard feature of learning and teaching for all ages, from school children to pensioners, throughout the education system, in the workplace and beyond.

Backed by the Government and as the world's largest supported e-learning network, Ufi/learndirect is already central to the delivery of such plans, which aim to get best value from e-learning through a joined-up approach and greater collaboration across government and learning providers.

Marking the launch of the Government's e-learning strategy, ‘Towards a Unified e-Learning’, Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Charles Clarke, joined executive members of Ufi/learndirect and other senior figures involved in UK e-learning at a summit in London, to debate how to progress these plans in a unified way.

Chief Executive of Ufi/learndirect, Ann Limb, said: "We very much welcome the strategy's proposals to integrate e-learning into all aspects of teaching and learning, and we support getting best value from e-learning by joining up existing developments more coherently.

"In just three years, Ufi/learndirect has enrolled almost 900,000 learners on more than 1.8 million courses, 85 per cent of which are online. Our research shows that 25 per cent of those would not have done any learning if learndirect did not exist.

"Ufi/learndirect is now firmly embedded within the learning and skills sector and, through a partnership approach, is engaging learners from all sectors of the community and the workforce.

"Through the combined network of learndirect and UK online centres, e-learning is contributing significantly to the work of all government departments by offering increased access to ICT and e-government services, as well as offering online courses."

Learndirect has centres and access points in both primary and secondary schools, providing opportunities for staff development as well as family and community learning.

The organisation is also exploring ways of bringing e-learning to school age children and are currently establishing pilot schemes working with disaffected and excluded 14 to 16 year olds.

(SP)