There are millions - perhaps billions - of dollars being spent on
attempting to introduce technology into developing countries' education
systems. I have just been looking around the World Bank website and the
Global Learning Development Network that they have funded. This seems to
be a high-tech TV satellite video-conferencing system, that requires very
expensive studios and other equipment to manage. It is hyped with some
flair, but I wonder what value it is going to have for the poor in the
needy countries.
If anyone on this list knows more about it, I'd welcome some insights.
I personally think that a very low tech mixed mode way of introducing
technology gradually into other countries, taking account of their own
teaching and learning traditions, is the only way anything is ever going to
be effective.
This is what I try to get across in the short Certificate in Online
Education & Training, from the Institute of Education, London University
that I have been running globally with regional groups for about
12 years. I would welcome people involved with development education, not
only because the course would be useful for them to experience at first
hand what it is like to be an online student, but also to help get the
message about development needs across to others.
Our "students" - all HE or FE professionals - normally include not only
academics but related staff that may be part of e-learning design
teams, e.g. technical specialists or librarians. Thus, participants come
from a range of different disciplines and educational backgrounds and
usually enjoy the unusual opportunity to share both what they have in
common and where they differ.
We use various multimedia materials and platforms to consider different
methods of teaching and syllabus design issues, closely tied to educational
needs. It gives a real insight into the needs of e-learning provision from
the student point of view, as well the institutional.
You'll find it a forum for rich structured collaborative learning with UK
and world-wide educators.
As with much good modern teaching, we focus very much on group
collaborative learning, both in our method of running the course and in the
topics we discuss. There is also a range of special options to cater for
specialist interests.
The Certificate is available in two modes:
either
the 10 week international online option from 30 January 2004,
or
the 4 week online course plus 5 separate days in London from 26 April 2004.
Content is the same, and both carry 20 credits that can be taken into
either an Advanced Diploma in Professional Studies or a Master's. All the
tutors have many years of experience as online tutors and trainers.
For full details, visit:
http://www.ioe.ac.uk/english/oet.htm
Enquiries to London office:
[log in to unmask]
using for reference the subject header: OET
Anita
====================================
Anita Pincas, Senior Lecturer,
Lifelong Education and International Development [LEID]
Institute of Education,University of London
Tel +44 0207 612 6522 / FAX +44 0207 612 6467
Personal Web page <http://www.ioe.ac.uk/english/Apincas.htm>
Certificate in Online Education and Training
Full details and application form:
<http://www.ioe.ac.uk/english/OET.htm>
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