Making the connection: elearning and mobile learning for prisoners

This paper reports on an Australian-government-funded project, Making the Connection, which facilitates participation in digital higher education in prisons with a view to reducing recidivism. Participation in education can help those incarcerated to develop critical thinking skills, digital literacies and the capacity for self-reflection. In addition, it promotes the prospects for employment on release and promotes positive connection to community and families. This helps reduce the risk of reoffending, by equipping people with the cognitive tools to engage constructively with families, communities and an increasingly digital society. Most correctional jurisdictions prohibit the use of the internet by prisoners, yet most universities are increasingly reliant on the online provision of programs. This often results in the further marginalisation of those who are already marginalised, including prisoners. The Making the Connection project is developing an internet-independent version of the University of Southern Queensland learning management system which can be accessed by incarcerated students in the correctional centre education lab. Course materials will also be available on netbook computers which students can take back to their cells, to allow them to continue working after lockdown. A suite of higher education programs, including enabling and undergraduate programs, are being adapted for use with these technologies