here and now or coming in the future? elearning in continuing education in africa

Here and Now or Coming in the Future? eLearning in Continuing

Education in AfricaJames Kariuki Njenga

Layout

• Introduction• Here and now• Coming in the future• Benefits of eLearning for CE• Challenges of eLearning in Africa• Discussion

Introduction

• The ICT revolution– Changing terminologies

• Brick and mortar, click and learn, brick and click

– Will we still be calling it eLearning in 2050• Do we have correspondence education? Digital

cameras?

Here and now

Coming in the future

CHALLENGES

•Power remains one of the most expensive cost manufacturing firms bear in Africa accounting to over 50% of the productions costs in some countries. •Africa has the least electrification rate in the world, at 24% compared to the world average of 73% with many rural areas still uncovered by the main grids since 10% of the population covered is in urban and industrial centers

•But even then, the majority in urban centers in Africa are poor.

•Overall, infrastructure is underdeveloped in most rural areas in Africa.

•The cost of communication, and communication technologies is prohibitive in Africa.

“an average university in Africa has no more bandwidth than the amount found in a residential connection in Europe or the United States” that is always strained; pays on average 50 times more than a typical US university per Kbps/month ; and the quality is low without firm commitments of policy from the internet providers of guaranteed uptimes - (Hawkins, 2007)

Source: Internet World Stats, 2008

•Africa has conservative and restrictive policies that serve as hindrances to the use of eLearning or technologies that promote eLearning•HEIs in Africa to address policy issues

•creating proactive and reactive policies•manage uncritical acceptance•Manage the techno-economic and socio-systems paradigms

•What constitutes access to technology for teaching and learning?

•Time?•Distance?•Population?

Most of our university’s top management are living in the past. Until they accept the use of technology for teaching and learning, we are going nowhere

The new teaching and learning paradigms calls for a complete “shift” of the way we teach and learn

Lack of skilled manpower in Africa in the use of eLearning means:Hindrance to its useLack or limited research in eLearning in (for) Africa

The implications of these are:1.The majority who are in need and cannot afford are left out2.Limited enrolments3.HE is limited to low cost, low quality education programs 4.HEIs getting involved in uncoordinated infrastructural development that end up being too costly

Challenges (n)•Cultural identity•Economic vulnerability•Westernization •modernity•Authenticity•contextualization

BENEFITS

Producing the workforce of today and tomorrow

Creation of networks of professionals extending boundaries

Flexibility•Content and delivery•Pace•Place•Time

Easy management of learning and the learning process

Creation of repositories of intellectual and human capital•CC•OER•Copyleft•Educommons etcs

Improved retention, motivation and completion rates****

Increased interactivity, support and communication.

Address the demand of Higher education

Strategies for the future

• Formation of networks• Fostering relationships between HEIs,

students and their environments• Dealing with human resources• Proper coordination and formation of flexible

funding models

Questions/Thank You

James Kariuki NjengaLecturer & eLearning ConsultantDepartment of Information SystemsUniversity of the Western Cape,Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South AfricaTel: +27 21 959 3243Cell: +27 72 037 3284email: jkariuki@uwc.ac.za, jkariuki@gmail.comblog: http://elearningfundi.blogspot.comhttp://www.elearningfundi.net

Sources of images/photos• Coffee makers: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lotzman• Coffee Dispenser: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanjoy• Maasai girls: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gbaku• Wooden Pillows: http://www.flickr.com/photos/emdot• Mobile Phone with Money: http://www.flickr.com/photos/whiteafrican/• Children & Bicycle: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanh• Green Rift Valley: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ditzygirl/• Kenya Money: http://www.flickr.com/photos/genvessel/576376009/• Kenyans Queue: http://www.flickr.com/photos/44222307@N00/2142803363/• Ugali and Cabbage: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitterjug/2248918702/• electricity poles: http://www.flickr.com/photos/reinis/259842877/• Coffee cup: http://www.flickr.com/photos/markhillary/3022024974/• Computer desk: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amagill/22651487/sizes/l/• One Laptop a Child: http://www.flickr.com/photos/olpc/2596796905/• Antennas: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alex-photos/411570259/• Out of Order: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shelbychicago/2105806003/• Old Administration: http://www.flickr.com/photos/takomabibelot/2354914078/• This side Up: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamescridland/410034254/• African Dance: http://www.flickr.com/photos/clav/2798044428/• Networks: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thefangmonster/352439602/• Night computer: http://www.flickr.com/photos/smittenkittenoriginals/2984703872/• Network development: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevenraymondparker/290276458/• The Runners: http://www.flickr.com/photos/waechor/263986663/• Demand and supply: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeblogs/271068829/