Technology and lifelong learning can be a lifeline for adult students

As a lifelong learner myself I understand the impact that gaining new skills and purpose can have on the individual. In my 20s I went through a long period of chronic pain and debilitation, due to the degeneration of several discs in my back, which meant I underwent three major operations over almost a decade.

I was pretty much housebound and became isolated and depressed, but through an advertisement for a short computer course at Bolton Community College (now Bolton College), I was able to regain my independence, and it actually changed the course of my life.

Looking back, I can’t help but think how much easier my journey to lifelong learning would have been if blended or online learning options had been in place. Thankfully, since the start of the pandemic, digital transformation across tertiary education has led to remote learning becoming commonplace at most colleges across the UK, throwing a lifeline to adult learners with work and personal commitments so they can gain access to education at a time and place that best suits their circumstances.

There are many groups within adult learning in particular that may not be able to access education without the use of technology.

For example, imagine you are a single parent or someone with caring responsibilities for a family member or friend. This can be a round-the-clock commitment for many individuals who need to be with those they care for, or at least on call, most of the time.

It makes travelling to their local college almost impossible. In the past this would have ruled out adult learning and prevented some from gaining better employment, earning a better wage, or even just the opportunity to immerse themselves in something outside of their normal responsibilities.

But through access to online and blended learning, people can learn new skills and engage with new communities – which may be the salvation they desperately need.

As well as enhancing our ability to learn, digital technology also has a huge impact on the jobs available to us, perhaps now more so than ever. As the skills needed by employers continue to evolve, it is essential employees, both current and prospective, can access learning that allows them to gain promotion, look for work in a new field, and remain competitive.

Online and blended education offered by colleges across the UK provides accessible and flexible options to learn, while breaking down physical and geographical barriers, opening the door to new opportunities.

For individuals already working multiple low-skilled jobs to pay the bills, finding the time and opportunity to upskill or reskill may not seem like a possibility: few adults can afford the luxury of further education without already being employed.

Therefore, learning must fit around existing work and home commitments and online learning can be truly life changing, providing access to tools, knowledge and essential mentoring, accessed at a time and place that works best for the learner.

In the current cost-of-living crisis, a lack of access to remote learning could mean the difference between poverty and prosperity.

All three of these examples – carers, up-skillers and trapped low-skilled workers – share the need for flexibility, accessibility and affordability. The upcoming introduction of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a positive step in the right direction towards improving access to education for adult learners. But the bottom line is many would struggle to access lifelong education if it weren’t for technology.

In my role I am lucky enough to witness fantastic uses of digital technology across the UK further education (FE) sector to develop skills and improve the learner experience.

From the use of drones in next generation farming, to ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) learners using translation technology to help them seamlessly integrate into college and community life, providers across the UK really do place innovation at the heart of what they do.

But I am most proud of how the FE sector has embedded online and blended learning into its everyday activities following the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic, allowing greater access to learning for those looking to improve their life circumstances.

This is one of the many reasons why I #LoveOurColleges.