Computers and Informal Learning

Abstract

The first two chapters have argued that community educators need to respond to the challenges of computers in order to try to counteract the tendencies of the new information technologies, if unchecked, to lead to political, economic, and particularly social divisiveness. Seen from this perspective, the gender bias of computers is only one facet of a wider problem which confronts all those who care about the educational well-being of their communities. The rest of this book will try to suggest some of the ways in which community education can respond to these challenges of humanizing technology. I shall describe and analyze specific projects, trying to tease out from the mass of particular details those general approaches and techniques which seem to have been effective. The discussions show only too plainly that there are many unresolved paradoxes and unsolved serious practical difficulties for community educators as they try to meet the challenge of computers in their local communities. But there is already an impressive amount of evidence about the actual and potential value of attempting to meet the need.

“Computer literacy is now the birthright of every citizen” Megarry, 1983.