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Influences on participation in learning

Experiences of learning

Technology and learning

» Learners' Forum

Residents.net

Residents.net was established with some of the lessons from the Learners’ Forum in mind.  The project provided a free PC with software and subsidised connection to the Internet to community groups who did not have one.  Training was offered alongside this, either at the group’s premises or at a convenient location, and there was also free technical support.  There was a website for the project, www.hullresidents.net and the project was conceived as a way of encouraging groups to network with each other, learn IT skills, and use the equipment to benefit their group. 

The project was partly a response to some of the Learners’ Forum findings which suggested that;

• People wanted easier ways to find out about learning opportunities,
• Generally, having IT skills was seen as important, and people were interested in learning how to use computers and the Internet.
• For some people, available time, cost and the location of learning were barriers to going on a course.

Residents.net helped deal with these issues for the groups that participated.  More details about the project can be found in the report Communities and Computers which looks in detail at the project.