The Digital and Network Society Needs for Open Online Learning

Abstract

Educational reformers, innovators and researchers suggest that the appearance of digital technologies will radically transform what people learn, how they learn, and where they learn, yet there are existing disagreements on the speed and scope of this change. However, looking for answers to these questions, it is important to identify factors in society which drive the need for a changed role of learning, and analyse the role of open and online learning. The common practice is to identify the learning needs related to already existing services, relating them to formal (Bates, 2015; Krumsvik, 2009), non-formal (Quesada-Pineda et al., 2011) or informal learning (Conole, 2017; Morrison, 2015). Networks and digital technologies have become the main characteristics of our society and take an important role in the society transforming it into global economies and shaping educational systems, organizations and ways that people learn(Ehlers, 2013). In a learning society (Jarvis, 2007), learning plays an important role to mitigate risks of individuals to prosper, participate and unfold in their lives, e.g. in the labour market(Beck, 1986). At the same time, access to learning opportunities seems to diversify through digital technology. The aim of this presentation is to discuss and present theoretical findings on the needs of digital and network society for open and online learning. The presentation will present the results of theoretical research and empirical (quantitative) research implemented among Lithuanian digital and networked society to clarify their needs for open and online learning.