(Paper published as member and coordinator of the working group on 'Education, Europe & Social Cohesion', 4th Cycle Foundation for European Progressive Studes-Young Academic Network / FEPS)
The aim of this paper is to examine the correlation between
e-learning platforms and social cohesion in Europe, where social
cohesion is understood as “the ability of a society to ensure the
welfare of all its members, minimizing disparities and avoiding
polarization” (Council of Europe, 2004). E-learning has recently
received increasing public attention because of its potentiality to
provide new inputs to lifelong learning, informal education, and ongoing
training. Our main argument is that the supposed transformative power
of ICT should be translated into evidence-based policies, which requires
taking into account the data available as well as pointing out the
limits of these new educational formats.
In this paper we assess three of these challenges. First, the
current trends regarding digital access and digital literacy across
Europe. The data available show that in order to generalize the benefits
of e-learning, European Union needs to tackle urgently digital
exclusion. In the second section we examine the skills and values that
e-learning is presupposed to enhance for the sake of social cohesion.
Some transformative arguments have been put forward, in particular some
findings showing that e-learning provides a unique opportunity to
empower groups of citizens suffering different kinds of exclusion. At
the same time, the examples quoted in this paper also show a tendency to
use these new educational tools online for consumerist and competition
purposes. A tendency that, as we argue in the paper, is affecting not
only e-learning but educational public policy in general. Finally, the
third section examines the legal challenge behind the expansion of
e-learning platforms, especially for vulnerable groups such as children
and minors.
We conclude by putting forward a set of possible policy
recommendations to contribute to the research, policy-making, and public
debate around this topic. In particular, we propose: a) to take a stand
to close the gap of digital divide, b) to use e-learning platforms as a
tool for public policy objectives, and c) to promote a European
legislation promoting some minimum standards among e-learning
providers.
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