Access vs. Participation

By Stephen Downes - Stephen's Web. Clarence Fisher[Edit][Delete]: Access vs. Participation, Remote Access [Edit][Delete] October 26, 2006
When I presented my paper to ITForum last week I got more comments about the digital divide (which had nothing at all to do with the paper) than anything else. So I too would like to refocus people's thinking about access issues. I see much more of a problem with respect to "opportunities to participate and to develop the cultural competencies and social skills needed for full involvement" than anything to do with technology. What sort of skills? Well the list outline here (Fisher links to a much longer paper) is quite a good list. Certainly, you can't do without these (yet so many people try). More...