This document discusses the importance of being prepared before going online. It notes that just as one would not climb a mountain without proper preparation, one should not go online without being prepared. It identifies some key barriers to online participation including access, skills, motivation, and trust. The document argues that volunteers can help overcome these barriers by adopting a values-based approach to digital inclusion and helping others become "digital citizens and role models", just as Scouting helps volunteers have amazing adventures by preparing them physically and psychologically.

1. Being Prepared

3. We would not climb a mountain,
We would not climb a mountain…

5. …without being prepared..

7. Therefore we should not go online…

10. The project?

11. Adopting a values-based
approach
to digital inclusion.

14. Education is ‘a life-long process which enables the
continuous development of a person’s capacities both as an
individual and as a member of society’
(World Scout Bureau, 1998)

15. We learn through
our interaction with
others and the
world around us.
(Palinscar, 1998; Vygotsky, 1978)

16. Social technology has created a new emphasis on participation.
(Jenkins et al, 2005)

17. What are the
barriers that
stop volunteers
participating
online?

18. Government Digital Inclusion Strategy 2014

19. Access

20. Skills

21. Motivation

22. Trust

23. Being
prepared is
physical and
psychological.

24. Volunteers have amazing adventures with young people every day.

25. By reminding
them of the
values and
methods of
Scouting…

26. ..we can help them overcome the barriers,

27. to become
‘digital’ citizens
and role
models.

28. The online world is another undiscovered world of opportunity.

29. “Being prepared”
Samantha Marks
February 2015
H818 The Networked Practitioner Online
Conference

30. References
Cabinet Office (2014) Government Digital Inclusion
Strategy, 13 April 2014 [online]
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/governme
nt-digital-inclusion-strategy (last accessed 14th
November 2014).
Jenkins, H., et al. (2005) Confronting the Challenges of
Participatory Culture: Media Education for the 21st
Century, MacArthur Foundation. [online] Available at:
http://mitpress.mit.edu/sites/default/files/titles/free_do
wnload/9780262513623_Confronting_the_Challenges.p
df (last accessed 14th November 2014).
Palincsar, A.S. (1998). Social constructivist perspectives
on teaching and learning. Annual Review of Psychology,
49, pp.345–375.
Vygotsky, L. (1978). Mind in Society. London: Harvard
University Press.