In formal education the campaign to provide democratic access to computer,
internet and broadcast media literacy and competence, is becoming as urgent
as the drive for universal phonetic literacy which characterized the
beginning of the 20th century.
Not only do these skills represent the difference between inclusion and
exclusion to economic and social opportunity but (if we go beyond mere
training) they also provide the tools with which to analyze the visual and
technological languages of power that keep individuals and groups "in their
place".
So access is not enough, real tactical education, is also about critiquing
what constitutes professionalism or expert knowledge. Critically it means
acquiring different forms of competence. Our slogan could be "no access
possible without competence". This is why education (including continuous
self education, "Teaching the Teachers") must be at the heart of tactical
practice that wishes to become effective rather than just symbolic.
In this forum and debate a variety of fascinating approaches to reaching
out to those often excluded from formal educational practice will be
presented and discussed. |
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