A Portuguese Model of E-learning for Prisoners as an Example of Successful Application of New Technologies in Education of Convicts: A Case Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31261/IJREL.2024.10.2.02Keywords:
e-learning, new technologies, penitentiary system, Portugal, read-aptation of convictsAbstract
The article presents a discussion on the application of e-learning in education of prisoners in Portugal. Today, e-learning has already become a significant complementation and extension of the current education offer. Avoiding application of modern technologies in education may lead to intensification of digital, social, educational and economic disparities in the society. There are also threats of complete digital exclusion of some social groups. One of those groups is formed by people serving their imprisonment sentences. A serious problem in offering the opportunity to benefit from e-learning to this particular group pertains to infrastructural disparities and availability of computer equipment and access to the Internet. Furthermore, considering the specificity of penitentiary institutions, security becomes an important issue as well. In Portugal, education of prisoners, including e-learning, has been focused on the context of life-long learning. Modern tools have been created and applied in education of prisoners and their learning processes. The projects, such as EPRIS@@ and Open University have been already in operation for some time. They can be an inspiration for prison staff members in other countries. The aim of the article is to show the solutions pertaining to e-learning dedicated to prisoners applied in Portugal as an example of the successful use of new technologies in education of convicts. The research methods include a case study. The techniques applied in the research include document analysis, a free-form and question-targeted interviews. The following research problems have been formulated: What solutions in the field of e-learning dedicated to prisoners are applied in Portugal and how are they implemented? What are the objectives of the discussed projects? How does the course of the learning process look like, with the consideration of the applied tools? What problems are presented to prisoners? What are the weaknesses and strengths of the applied solutions? How is the evaluation of the learning outcomes achieved? What does the innovative character of the solutions applied in the field of e-learning dedicated to prisoners consist in? In order to collect the discussed material, the analysis of content, statistical data and interviews with educators working with prisoners have been used. The materials referred to in the article were collected in 2022, in the Institute Piaget and the Open University of Porto in Portugal.
References
Act of 6th June 1997 on the Executive Penal Code; Journal of Laws 1997; no. 90, item 557.
Babbie, E. (2019). Social research in practice. PWN. ISBN 978-83-01-14068-7.
Barros, R. & Monteira, A. (2022). Ensaio: aval. pol. públ. Educ. Rio de Janeiro, v.30, n.116, pp. 837–857, jul./set., pp. 837–857. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-40362022003003035 ISSN: 0104-4036.
Barros, A. & Monteiro, A. (2023). Leite Learning with digital technologies in prison: a scoping review, Digital Education Review. http://doi/10.1344/der.2023.43.1-17.
Deka, R. (2017). Social readaptation of convicts as one of the conditions for the safety of local communities. In P. Frąckowiak, M. Szykut (Eds.) Wielowymiarowość profilaktyki, resocjalizacji i readaptacji społecznej Tradycja, współczesność i perspektywy inicjatyw probacyjnych [Multidimensionality of prevention, resocialization and social readaptation. Tradition, modernity and prospects of probation initiatives]. Wydawnictwo Edukacyjne Akapit. https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0014.5741.
Direçāo-Geral de Reinserçāo e Serviços Prisionais (2024, April 12). Current punitive system. Retrieved from https://justica.gov.pt/.
Direçāo-Geral de Reinserçāo e Serviços Prisionais (2024, April 12). Microsoft PowerPoint - Regras Penitenciárias. Retrieved from https://justica.gov.pt/.
Direçāo-Geral de Reinserçāo e Serviços Prisionais (2024, April 12). Prevention of criminal recidivism [Vision, mission and values, Vision, mission and values. Retrieved from https://justica.gov.pt/.
Direçāo-Geral de Reinserçāo e Serviços Prisionais (2024, April 12). Regras Mínimas das Nações Unidas para o Tratamento de Reclusos (Regras de Nelson Mandela). Retrieved from https://justica.gov.pt/.
Direçāo-Geral de Reinserçāo e Serviços Prisionais (2024, April 12). The body responsible for prevention, execution of sentences, social reintegration and management of the entire penitentiary system. Retrieved from https://justica.gov.pt/.
Direçāo-Geral de Reinserçāo e Serviços Prisionais (2024, April 12). Vision, mission and values. Retrieved from https://justica.gov.pt/.
Dores, A. P., Pontes, N., Loureiro, R. (2013). Prison conditions in Portugal. Rome 2013, pp. 10–13, (83). Academia.edu. ISBN: 978-88-98688-01-2.
Frania, M. (2017). New media, technologies and trends in education. Toward mobility and hybrid learning. OW Impuls. ISBN 978-83-8095-383-3.
Fontana, J. & Frey H. (2009). Interview. From neutrality to political involvement. In N. K. Denzin, Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Metody badan jakościowych, vol. 2. PWN. ISBN 978-83-01-15879-8.
Hammersley, M. & Atkinson, P. (1995). Field research methods. Wyd. Zysk i S-ka. ISBN 83-7150-704-6.
Hashim, H. & Tasir, Z. (2014). E-Learning Readiness: A Literature Review. International Conference On Teaching And Learning In Computing And Engineering (Latice), Proceedings Paper, pp. 267–271. E-Learning Readiness: A Literature Review-Web of Science Core Collection (wsb.gda.pl). ISSN 2377-0309.
Hrastinski, S. (2019). What Do We Mean by Blended Learning?, TechTrends 63/2019, pp. 564–569. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-019-00375-5.
Indellicato, R. (2020). Human rights and the educational role of technologies during the Covid-19 period. Journal of Modern Science tom 2/45/2020, p. 74. https://doi.org/10.13166/jms/131238.
Kędzierski, W. (2008). Determinants of social rehabilitation – selected aspects. In F. Kozaczuk (Ed.), Efektywność oddziaływań resocjalizacyjnych [Effectiveness of social rehabilitation interactions]. Wyd. Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego. ISBN: 9788373383395.
Kędzierski, W. (2017). Dererminants of social rehabilitation carried out in conditions of penitentiary isolation in the context of social readaptation – selected aspects. In I. Mudrecka (Ed.), Resocjalizacja, readaptacja i reintegracja społeczna – problemy, programy i perspektywy rozwoju komunikacji [Resocialization, readaptation and social reintegration-problems, programs and prospects for the development of communication]. Wyd. Pedagogium. Wyższa Szkoła Nauk Społecznych w Warszawie. ISBN: 978-83-62902-22-4.
Konecki, K. (2000). Studies in qualitative research methodology. Grounded theory. PWN. ISBN 83-01-13235-3.
Kuźmicz, K. (2015). E-learning. The culture of studying online. GWP. ISBN 978-83-7489-610-8.
Lalima, K. L. D. (2017). Blended Learning: An Innovative Approach, Universal Journal of Educational Research 5(1): 129–136. Retrieved from http://www.hrpub.org. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2017. 050116.
Lofland, J., Snow, D. A., Anderson, L., & Lofland, L. H. (2009). Analysis of social systems – a methodological guide to qualitative research. Wydawnictwo Naukowe „Scholar”. ISBN: 978-83-7383-399-9.
Machel, H. (2003). Prison as a penal and social rehabilitation institution. Wyd. Arche, Gdańsk. ISBN: 83-89356-10-4.
Molga, A. (2015), E-learning platforms and their importance for the education process. Dydaktyka Informatyki 10, 133–139. http://dx.doi.org/10.15584/di.2015.10.15.
Monteiro, A., Barros, R., & Leite, C. (2015). Lifelong learning through e-learning in european prisons: Rethinking digital and social inclusion, Conference: INTED2015 CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS, p. 1038–1046, ISBN:978-84-606-5763-7.
Moreira, J. A. & Horta, M. J. (2020). Educação e Ambientes Híbridos de Aprendizagem. Um Processo de Inovação Sustentada, Revista UFG, v.20: e66027, pp. 8–9. https://doi.org/10.5216/REVUFG.V20.66027.
Moreira, J. A., Monteiro, A., & Machado, A. (2017). Adult higher education in a Portuguese prison. European Journal for Research on the Education and Learning of Adults, Vol. 8, Issue 1, pp. 37–51. ISSN: 2000-7426.
Moreira, J. A., Reis-Monteiro, A., & Machado A. (2017). Higher Education Distance Learning and e-Learning in Prisons in Portugal. Comunicar Vol. 25, Issue 51, pp. 39–47. https://doi.org/10.3916/C51-2017-04.
Rui, J. & Moreira, F. (2008). E-Skills Are Really Critical To E-Learning Success?, Conference: IADIS International Conference e-Learning, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, July 22–25. Proceedings, pp. 192–199, ISBN: 978-972-8924-58-4.
Sendur, A. & Kościńska, A. (2021). Online education – theory and practice. A guide for foreign language teachers and more. Wyd. Oficyna Wydawnicza KAAFM. ISBN 978-83-66007-73-4.
Siemieniecka, D. & Siemieniecki, B. (2019). The theories of education in digital world. OW Impuls. ISBN 978-83-80-95-751-0.
Stake, R. E. (2009). Qualitative case study. In N. K. Denzin, Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Qualitative research methods, vol. 1. PWN. ISBN 978-83-01-15877-4.
Strumińska-Kutra, M. & Kołodkiewicz, I. (2012). Case study. In D. Jemielniak (Ed.), Qualitative research. Methods and tools, vol. 2. Warszawa: PWN. ISBN: 978-83-01-16947-3.
Sztuka, J. (2018). The perspective of effectiveness in social rehabilitation. Studia Paedagogica Ignatiana 2018/21/ 1, pp. 85–105.
UNESCO Chair of applied Research for Education in Prison (2022). Portrait of a Researcher: José António Marques Moreira. Newsletter, Volume 10, Issue 1, February 2022.
Woźniak, J., Stanek, M., Jurek, M., Wenda, W., & Zaskórski, P. (2020). How to study online?, p. 24. Wyd. CeDeWu. ISBN 978-83-8182-446-4.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
The Copyright Owners of the submitted texts grant the Reader the right to use the pdf documents under the provisions of the Creative Commons 4.0 International License: Attribution-Share-Alike (CC BY SA). The user can copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose.
1. License
The University of Silesia Press provides immediate open access to journal’s content under the Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Authors who publish with this journal retain all copyrights and agree to the terms of the above-mentioned CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
2. Author’s Warranties
The author warrants that the article is original, written by stated author/s, has not been published before, contains no unlawful statements, does not infringe the rights of others, is subject to copyright that is vested exclusively in the author and free of any third party rights, and that any necessary written permissions to quote from other sources have been obtained by the author/s.
If the article contains illustrative material (drawings, photos, graphs, maps), the author declares that the said works are of his authorship, they do not infringe the rights of the third party (including personal rights, i.a. the authorization to reproduce physical likeness) and the author holds exclusive proprietary copyrights. The author publishes the above works as part of the article under the licence "Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International".
ATTENTION! When the legal situation of the illustrative material has not been determined and the necessary consent has not been granted by the proprietary copyrights holders, the submitted material will not be accepted for editorial process. At the same time the author takes full responsibility for providing false data (this also regards covering the costs incurred by the University of Silesia Press and financial claims of the third party).
3. User Rights
Under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license, the users are free to share (copy, distribute and transmit the contribution) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material) the article for any purpose, provided they attribute the contribution in the manner specified by the author or licensor.
4. Co-Authorship
If the article was prepared jointly with other authors, the signatory of this form warrants that he/she has been authorized by all co-authors to sign this agreement on their behalf, and agrees to inform his/her co-authors of the terms of this agreement.
I hereby declare that in the event of withdrawal of the text from the publishing process or submitting it to another publisher without agreement from the editorial office, I agree to cover all costs incurred by the University of Silesia in connection with my application.
