What is E-Learning?

E-learning is learning over the Internet. It is an important way of making education and training more accessible to a wider range of people, because it allows more freedom than the traditional structured environment of classroom based group learning.

E-learners can take on course content in bite sized chunks, at their own pace and in their own time. Because they are not tied to classroom attendance and timetables, e-learners can be flexible and fit their learning around their own particular needs and circumstances.

The greater flexibility of e-learning makes it an especially good way for homeless people to get back into education and training. Its different approach to learning often makes it more appealing to people who may have had negative experiences of classrooms and education in the past. OSW implemented a range of e-learning initiatives between 2000-2004.

Learn Online Guides

In 2001 OSW commissioned Resource Information Service to research the feasibility and value of providing e-learning as part of OSW's range of services. They produced two editions of a report called Learn Online - Implementing E-Learning for the Homeless Sector, which are available to download from our Online Library.

Skills Development Fund (SDF) Programme

Also in 2001, OSW gained £500,000 from the London Development Agency's SDF Programme, enabling us to implement a major ICT upgrade across OSW's service providers. This has meant that whichever OSW service provider an individual attends, they now have access to excellent quality hardware and software, email and broadband Internet.

E-Learning Bursary Scheme

OSW set up an e-learning bursary scheme to allow service providers to get small amounts of funding to support their individual e-learning projects.

ICT Consultancy Programme

OSW commissioned appiChar, an ICT services firm, to run an ICT Consultancy Programme, to assist all OSW providers to strengthen their ICT infrastructure, and to develop staff skills in ICT support, management and strategy development. As well as providing a tailored support package to each service provider, they also produced a set of easy to use ICT support guides, which are available to download in the Online Library.

The European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) Online Programme

In June 2003, OSW commenced a one year pilot ECDL Online programme, funded by London Central Learning and Skills Council, which supported 130 homeless people to achieve the ECDL qualification. ECDL is recognised worldwide, and enables individuals to demonstrate their competence in computer skills.

The ECDL Online programme was delivered by Broadway, Centrepoint, St Botolph's Project , and Look Ahead Housing and Care. The programme, which finished in May 2004, was highly successful - 383 ECDL modules were achieved, and 27 individuals gained the full ECDL qualification.