t-learning - Future Scenarios - A life specific episode stimulates skills updating

On the family lifestyle channel, Naomi and Dmitri have just been watching a TV programme about how young children learn to talk. This is of particular interest to them as they have a six-month-old son - their first child.

Although an independent producer supported by the National Health Council has produced the programme, it is actually sponsored by a baby food supplier. This private-public partnership also consists of a national training organisation that is keen to utilise the interest created by the programme. They want to encourage people to train to become child-care assistants for nurseries and playgroups and teacher’s assistants for primary and secondary schools. The national training organisation has received a grant from the government to do this but it must meet certain targets for training people up to a specific level of qualifications.

During the TV programme, the interactive icon is displayed on the screen. This means more information is available. Naomi presses the interactive button to find out what else is available. Dmitri requests a fact sheet about the programme, which can be sent via email or post. All their contact details have already been pre-programmed into their set-top box so they don’t have to enter the details again. Before their request is sent off they are asked if they have any children under three years and also asked whether they would object to receiving any news about young children’s products. (This is the opportunity for the baby food supplier to capture information about parents with young children.)

Naomi also notices that a TV-based course is available leading to an introductory qualification in child-care. She selects this option from the interactive menu and a two-minute video-clip is shown about the course. The course is divided into various modules that can be taken individually. There is also an opportunity to do a taster module at no charge. A booklet is sent via email or post and each module has its own TV programme that is broadcast on the learning channel. Part of the assessment involves various activities based around observations on young children. This is done by completing a multiple choice options form on the TV.

With encouragement from Dmitri, Naomi decides to have a go on the course, which costs around 50 euro per module with four modules leading to basic-level recognised national qualification. She is even able to charge this to her individual learning account - an initiative from national government to encourage people back into work through learning.

After selecting and paying for the first module of the course through entering a PIN number on the remote control, Naomi almost immediately receives details about the course via email. She gets a welcome letter, the course booklet to print out, details of her online tutor should she require help and the timetable for the TV programmes. If fact, this timetable has also been programmed into the set-top box so Naomi can be alerted when her programmes are due to be viewed. The set-top box can also be programmed to record the programmes on their videotape recorder. If they had a later version of their set-top box the programmes would have been automatically recorded on the set-top box for up to forty-eight hours. Each programme for the course is regularly repeated on the learning channel so it will only be a few days before the first programme is shown.

The next day Naomi also receives an email from her online tutor who happens to be based at her regional college 70 km away. Her tutor informs her that they organise monthly meetings at the college for those taking the child-care course and crèche facilities are also available. She looks forward to the day away from her home and the college hopes that they will eventually be able to persuade Naomi to follow one of their other courses.

Future Scenario - A life specific episode stimulates skills updating