Abstract
The United Kingdom and other governments have demonstrated faith in information and communications technology (ICT) as a means of achieving a participative and inclusive society through various high-profile initiatives. It is also claimed that ICT or e-learning can bring about new patterns of power and participation for excluded learners. In this context, this article examines the following questions: What new patterns of power and participation are ICTs enabling through e-learning? And what else is needed for a participative and inclusive society? The article addresses the questions from two different perspectives. First, the authors look at the small but growing empirical base in the area of informal and community learning, including the description of a previously unreported study in this area. Second, they discuss what is required to design digital media that plug into the motivations of ‘real people’ in a way that empowers them. It is argued that we need a merging of interdisciplinary perspectives if we are to enable true power and participation for e-learners. Specifically, the authors illustrate how the careful design of ICTs can contribute to empowerment.