This document discusses organizational barriers to social e-learning for students with disabilities in outreach programs. It explores using computer technologies and social media like email, blogging, videos and avatars to enhance learning experiences. However, it notes that a key challenge is ensuring students have regular access to participate both in and out of class. Without access, outreach risks increasing rather than reducing the digital divide and educational inequities. It proposes strategies like providing training and technical support, collaborating with community groups to improve access, and ensuring ongoing support and review of facilities.

1. ORGANISATIONAL BARRIERS TO
SOCIAL E-LEARNING
GATE
Gaining Access to Employment
http://socialelearning.flexiblelearning.net.au/social_elearning/lo/blogs_cases/blogs_cases_02.htm
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2. Michelle Dodd, Coordinator programs for People With Disabilities
Challenger TAFE, Perth
Program Aim:
Exploring computer technologies to enhance opportunities and learning
experiences for students with disabilities
•Intellectual Disabilities
•Multiple Disabilities including;
•Physical
•Mental Illness
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3. Employability Course at Certificate 1 level
 Developing literacy and numeracy skills
 Career planning
 Work experience
 Some project-based learning
Funding Australian Flexible Learning Framework
To experiment with a range of different
technologies
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4. Began with email then tried blogging purely as a fun exercise
Teachers found email assisted with
• Literacy skills
• Communication when absent
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5. Blogging
• Online journal
• Using text with spell-check
• Pictures and videos
• Stories without text
• Video and audio for self expression
• Profiling themselves
• Avatar
• Individual career plans & goal setting
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7. Connecting to others with similar learning needs & social needs
Safe learning environment
A space to Achieve competency
Skills to share with family & friends
Improved Self esteem
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8. Tasks reflect Elements and Performance criteria
Activities which Engaged students
reflecting the Curriculum
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9. Outreach
Access to Education
educational opportunities
disadvantaged and
marginalised groups
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10. Challenge to ensure issues of the digital divide are reduced not increased
Students must have regular access to participate in and out of class
Without access Outreach will contribute to further disadvantage
rather than the organisational goal of addressing
educational inequities
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11. Closing the gap between those with ‘physical access
to information and communication technologies and those without’
Atkinson, Black and Curtis, Charles Sturt University, Australian 2008
Exploring the digital divide in the Regional Cit of Albury
Research findings:
the ‘digital divide’ created issues of social justice and social inequity
within the community
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12. Strategies to address organisational barrier
to Social E-learning
1. Provide training and technical support to identified disadvantages groups
2. Collaborate with Community organisations and local council to improve access
3. Ensure ongoing support outside of the classroom
4. Ensure regular review of facilities
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13. Social e-learning can create new opportunities
for learning & connection breaking
isolation on multiple levels for
disadvantaged & marginalised students in TAFE Outreach
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