Users' Digital Competences Study to Design MOOCs for Digital Literacy in Mexico

Introduction

Nearly from three decades developed countries from Europe, Asia, and North America had been addressing resources and government policies to preserve a long-term vision and plans towards reduce the digital divide creating inclusive programs that penetrates the social layers mainly covering to those most unprotected (Suba Rao, 2010; Binghamton University, 2011; Grillo et al., 2007; Gustafson et al., 2005; Chauveau & Vergara Sanchez, 2009; Zhou, Singh & Kaushik, 2011; ASRLO, 2007; PPE, 2013, CSIP, 2013; IDRC, 2002). Mexico and many other Latin-American countries were added to these efforts emerging several proposals such as (ICDL, 2011) where proposed programs for certification of people are as Digital Citizens. Similar efforts have been proposed in Mexico, where States like Jalisco and Nayarit had been referenced points for other States such as Aguascalientes where an efficient and effective Digital Agenda was implemented (IJTI, 2013). Said plan consisted of several programs that encourage the IT universal access. Each of these state alternatives is supported by the Digital Policy from Mexican Federal Government.

Particularly, the Aguascalientes Government creates in 2009 the program “Vagones de Ciencia y Tecnologia” (IDSCEA, 2015). Said alternative is oriented not only to approaching IT to people, but also to training them on usage and appropriation of IT. This program provides people -including senior citizens and students from basic education- an interactive space for science and technology divulgation. The program “Vagones de Ciencia y Tecnologia” has two railcars adapted as IT classrooms including forty PCs each and Wi-Fi internet service where are carry out playful activities, experiments, conferences, talks about IT for society, video projections, among other learning and training activities oriented to provide basics on IT usage and digital competences appropriation. These aspects was perceived as the difference against previous programs in the State and the country that just provide technology to people but do not launched any training program, in this vein several experts state that “Access is not enough” (Suba Rao, 2010; Shulman et al. 2002).

The program “Vagones de Ciencia y Tecnologia” is complemented by sister alternative called “Casas de la Ciencia y la Tecnologia”, which helps to extend benefits of the program to the most of towns in the State. This extension offer people free interactive spaces to approching them to IT and Science fostering and increment in their interest on technology. This program is also offered to training workers at local industry on IT and Internet usage.

The whole alternative is then oriented to contribute to reduce digital divide in the State of Aguascalientes providing free IT and Internet training to people fostering both adequate access and usage to be applied later for personal benefits, academic, or labor.

As digital literacy strategy, this program could be classified as a non-formal educative program, understanding that non-formal education is that organized and planed educational activity provided out of the official educative system. Non-formal education could be provided at diverse places including cultural centers, libraries, among others. In this way, training sessions at the program “Vagones de Ciencia y Tecnologia” promotes several aspects from tacit knowledge encouraging learning from own experiences and acquiring knowledge from others as a result to live in society including values, attitudes, and abilities.