the significance of education, odl & icts to the people of developing nations clayton r. wright,...

The Significance of Education, ODL & ICTsto the People of Developing Nations

Clayton R. Wright, PhD

[email protected]

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UN Declaration

The Significance of Education, ODL & ICTs to the People of Developing Nations, C. R. Wright

Every person has a right to an educationArticle 26, 1948

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C. R. Wright

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Impact of Education

Educated girls are less likely to marry or have children early; they are better able to protect themselves from HIV and AIDS, from sexual exploitation and abuse.

The Significance of Education to the People of Developing Nations, C. R. Wright

Anthony Lake, UNICEF (2010, September 17). For children, education is almost everything. This Is Africa: A Global

Perspective, http://web.thisafricaonline.com/2010/09/17.

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C. R. Wright

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Every year of secondary education, a girl or woman can attain will greatly increase her future income - sometimes by as much as 15%.


Anthony Lake, UNICEF (2010, September 17). For children, education is almost everything.

This Is Africa: A Global Perspective, http://web.thisafricaonline.com/2010/09/17.

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If there is a one-year increase in tertiary education stock, the GDP would increase 0.63%.


D. Bloom, D. Canning, and K. Chan, (2005, September). Higher Education and Economic

Development in Africa, Harvard University, pages 3 & 29.

Education is widely accepted as a leading instrument for promoting economic growth…

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In summary, education and health increase human productivity, raise life expectancy and facilitate community life. They have major impact on economic growth and increase individual and collective wellbeing.


Abdoulaye Diagne (2006, November 22-24). Investing in People: Education and Health, African Development

Bank Seminar, Tunis, Tunisia, pages 3-4.

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But, there is a problem…There is not enough funding to provide: • clean drinking water; • every child with healthy meals; • latrines and basic health services;• and train all the teachers needed;• traditional school buildings; and• adequate, reliable telecommunication and

electrical infrastructures.


C. R. Wright (2009, May). Response to “Are ICTs the Best Educational Investment?”, Ed Tech Debates, World Bank.

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And…


Nicholas H. Allen, (2010, September1-3). Education for All: Access, Equity, Opportunity, Pretoria, South Africa.

Globally, of those 20 or younger, 30 million are qualified to attend university, but there are no places for them. This number increases to 100 million by 2020.

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The world population is outstripping the capacity of existing academic institutions and those being planned.


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Thus…

In order to serve the number of youths qualified to enter university in 2020, a major university would need to be opened every week.


Daniel E. Atkins, John Seely Brown & Allen L. Hammond (2007, February). A Review of the Open Educational Resources (OER) Movement: Achievements, Challenges, and New Opportunities - Report to the William and Flora Hewlett

Foundation.

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Potential Solutions?Implement :• open and distance learning (ODL) • information and communication

technologies (ICTs)


African Virtual University

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ODL is critical for development… and can be used to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and Education for All (EFA).


Olugbemiro Jegede, (2010, September 13-15). ODL Policy in Africa: Perceptions, Realities and

Challenges presented at the ICDE Standing Committee of Presidents, Pretoria, South

Africa.

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ODL and ICTs could:• Provide greater and equitable access• Train teachers• Provide resources currently unavailable• Improve literacy rates and ICT skills• Help learners to obtain 21st century skills• Encourage community participation• Support social mobilization• Decrease funds needed to build schools


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Successes in the developing world, examples

• African Virtual University

• Indira Gandhi National Open University

• University of South Africa

• Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth


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Obstacles to overcome

• Lack of will• Lack of acceptance of new

methods, particularly learner-centred instruction

• The belief that ODL is second-rate education.


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• Resistance to change• Lack of ODL and ICT policies

that affect access, equity, quality, resource allocation, and infrastructure development

• Lack of sustained government support for initiatives


continued

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• Lack of fast, reliable internet access that not only supports education, but also e-business and e-governance

• Lack of funding


continued

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• Attitudinal shift• Commitment• Funding• Quality


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Lack of funding is always raised as the major stumbling block.

But success can only occur if there is an attitudinal shift.


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Attitudinal Shift• Education can be the driver of social

and economic development. • ODL and conventional face-to-face

education can co-exist.• The quality of ODL graduates can be equal

to or better than face-to-face graduates.


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Attitudinal Shift• Educators can and must learn to use

ODL and ICTs effectively.• Communities can play a key role in ODL

and benefit from ODL and ICTs.


Indira Gandhi Open University

continued

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Address lack of acceptance of ODL/ICTs:

• Discuss exemplary ODL institutions • Note high profile individuals in the country

who benefited from ODL• Engage those who work in established

ODL and ICT programs for management, development, and delivery advice


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Address lack of acceptance of ODL/ICTs:

• Ensure ODL and ICT programs are relevant to students

• Provide adequate resources so that ODL is not perceived as “second-rate”

• Participate in the development of open educational resources with AVU, COL, TESSA…


continued

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Address lack of acceptance of ODL/ICTs:• Employ the same tutors and instructors

in both traditional and distance programs• Establish and maintain quality assurance

systems


continued

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Implement policies that:

• Address the needs of rural students• Provide support for jobs needed now

and in the future – need a crystal ball?


• Without restrictions, ingrain the right for everyone to access education


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Implement policies that:

• Support the co-existence of face-to-face instruction and ODL

• Incorporate intellectual property rights that foster the development and use of open educational resources (OERs)


©

continued

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Implement policies that:• Establish timelines and resources

for expanding the electrical and telecommunications infrastructures

• Address cross-border education• Provide sustainable funds for education


continued

Egypt, Elaine Hoeskstra

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Dept. of education must:• be committed to ODL and ICT

implementation; • ensure that accessibility and

equity are addressed;• provide resources; • adjust the curriculum;


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Dept. of education must:• train the instructors;• provide effective, continuous

professional development; • ensure helpful learner support;• maintain and support the technology;


Kyambogo University, UgandaIndira Gandhi Open University, India

Freetown Teachers’ College, Sierra Leone

continued

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Dept. of education must:• provide feasible and continuous

assessments;• adjust organizational policies; • provide leadership that is flexible,

open to new ideas, and willing to make decisions and take action;

• provide sustained support.


C. R. Wright,. (2007, December 5). Technology Implementation in Developing Countries. Presentation to the National e-Learning Steering

Committee (NeLSCOM) at the University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.

continued

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Funding needed for:• Capital costs• Operating• Maintenance• Software licenses• Electrical & internet access• Professional development

Capital costs may only be 20%-30% of the real cost of implementation.


Wayan Vota

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If governments rely on external funding, what happens when funding expires?

It is essential to build a sustainable financial structure and to do so before external funding expires.


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Save funds by…• Using open educational resources • Adopting and/or adapting materials• Using a blended learning approach• Collaborating within and beyond local

educational communities• ???


Realize that there will never be enough funding!

And, continued donations can lead to dependency.

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Is it possible to: • increase access, • improve quality, and • cut costs,

all at the same time?


Sir John Daniel, (2010, October 14). The Commonwealth of Learning: How a small agency

achieves development impact. Presentation for the Canadian International Development Agency, Ottawa,

Canada.

The Iron TriangleA

cces

s Quality

Costs

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Addressing quality• Establish quality assurance systems for

every facet of the educational operation



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Addressing quality• Conduct self-audits based on reliable

instruments from other open institutions or organizations such as COL, European Foundation for Quality in eLearning (EFQUEL), ICDE, and UNESCO

• Involve external personnel in periodic quality audits


continued

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Quality ODL/ICT materials:• Are relevant to the

learners and their communities

• Engage and motivate the learner

• Require learners to search, compile, analyze, interpret and apply data from local and distant communities


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Quality ODL/ICT materials:

• Encourage critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving

• Provide opportunities for practice and knowledge transfer

• Offer timely, constructive, relevant, and frequent feedback


continued

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Quality ODL/ICT materials:

• Demand that learners interact with it, with their peers, and their community

• Link learners to home and community• Provide links to resources beyond the

content and the learners’ communities


C. R. Wright

continued

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There may be many challenges to implementing ODL and/or ICT programs, but the key to success may be collaboration among:• people,• institutions,• countries, • regions, and• international agencies.


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Is waiting necessary?

Must everyone have clean drinking water, enough food to eat, suitable shelter, and a disease-free environment before they can have an education?


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Is waiting necessary?

Perhaps an education will enable them to have clean drinking water, food, shelter, and a healthy environment.

Which comes first education or …?


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Should everyone have a bicycle before anyone can have a car?


C. R. Wright (2010, August 3). Response to “Laptops for Education: $10, $35, $100 and Points in Between

(but not above!)”, EduTech, World Bank.

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By implementing ODL and ICTs, who knows who you might help, sooner rather than later!


C. R. Wright

Thank you!

Clayton R. Wright, PhD

[email protected]

Feedback is always welcomed!

the significance of education, odl & icts to the people of developing nations clayton r. wright,...

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