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Higher Education, Globalization and Knowledge Societies
Prof.M.M.Pant
M.M.Pant
Pervasiveness of the Internet
The Internet is accessible from offices.
From homes
From cyber cafés
At educational Institutes
M.M.Pant
The plethora of access devices
The Personal Computer is the Grand Old access device for the Internet
The Television can also be used Special Internet and e-mail access devices are
available Cellular mobile phones have Internet and WAP
access Personal Digital assistants have Internet Access
M.M.Pant
Form and Functionality of the ‘Universal Education Access Device’
The basic form factor, an A-4 sheet typical of a note-book used traditionally for writing
Can be rolled. pulled back and in many other ways made compact so that it can be put in a coat pocket or a ladies purse
M.M.Pant
Software capabilities
All Basic office automation software
Multi-media capabilities ,playing all formats
Keyboard, pen-based inputs, voice-based inputs
Capable of creating and uploading web-pages Customizable by downloading and configuring of
appropriate software
M.M.Pant
Global Open design
Adopts open standards
Multiple language support
Limits Microsoft’s monopoly
M.M.Pant
Entering the era of portable knowledge
Term used by Denis Whitley in ‘Empires of the mind’
Shorthand for saying that geographic boundaries to knowledge have been erased
More interestingly stated ‘Geography is History’
M.M.Pant
Some fallacies about Internet based education
Internet is a great opportunity for broadcasting at costs exponentially tending to zero, hence huge profits for e-learning
Following the earlier example of the pharmaceutical Industry, all learning can be packaged and manufactured and delivered in appropriate doses, by teachers who would diagnose prescribe and then declare fit for society…
M.M.Pant
The evolution towards blended learning
Highly developed learning materials developed for self-learning, programmed somewhat along Skinner’s Programmed learning
Largely self-learning but with some support, through FAQ’s, Chat, e-mail support
Current thinking is to blend several formats to suit learner style and in keeping with operational constraints
M.M.Pant
Teacher-learner transaction as the core
The teacher was the traditional sage on the stage
Adopting a spray and pray approach
Now moving towards a guide by the side Knowing exactly when to step aside
Empowering the learner to learn to learn
M.M.Pant
Moving from eye-contact to e-contact
Traditional successful educators can create a wonderful classroom learning environment
Engaging the remote-learner is an entirely different game
Successful role models of these do not yet abound and all are in the exploratory stage
M.M.Pant
Acceptability of the new forms and processes
It is difficult for external observers to distinguish between form and process
In the new portable knowledge era, learners can be in one part of the globe, the teachers in another and evaluators somewhere else
How would one be sure that what was planned to happen is actually happening?
M.M.Pant
Quality assurance in a rapidly changing environment
Traditionally quality acceptability was achieved over a long period of time
Today quantitative approaches to quality in manufacturing and some services can be designed and planned for
In higher education, especially in rapidly emerging areas it is extremely difficult to assure quality as usually understood
M.M.Pant
Recognition of Qualifications
National Qualification Framework
International Qualification Framework
Employer’s acceptability
Professional organizations codes
M.M.Pant
Confidence in Competencies certified
There is need for a shift from traditional exam based certification to a more direct demonstration of competencies acquired
Evidence based submissions
Portfolio Evaluations against defined parameters
M.M.Pant
De-materialized certificates and degrees
We need to rapidly distinguish between a genuine qualification and a faked one
Recently a CFO of a big company was found to have faked his Stanford University degree
Instant online verification and validation of academic credentials is important for the credibility of the International higher education system
M.M.Pant
Global depositories and repositories
Successful Globalization would require the creation of Global repositories and depositories
Repositories for course contents, model examination papers, learning objectives
Depositories for knowledge workers with educational qualifications, work experience, specializations, quality profile etc..
M.M.Pant
Identity establishment and identity theft
Correlation between physical/personal identity and electronic/virtual identity needs to be established.
Pseudonyms for creative authors are acceptable, but pseudonyms for professional services providers are called impersonation and identity theft
Digital signatures, biometrics etc would have to be deployed to put in place a reliable system
M.M.Pant
Technological Dimensions
Technology is getting smaller, smarter, more rugged and more pervasive
However technology is rapidly changing and coping with obsolescence is a challenge
Do we adopt the current bleeding edge technology or for ever be waiting. For they also learn who only stand and wait.
M.M.Pant
Organization of learning Content
From large monolithic schools and monuments of learning to smaller chunks of learning
The same basic learning resource reusable for different purposes
Requires tagging with metadata and technologies for handling these. SCORM is one such standard
M.M.Pant
Why do we need research?
As has been said earlier, intuitive and obvious thoughts as well as anecdotal experience often proves wrong?
Much of what is happening is very new for all concerned
We need to be able to see what still holds good and what is getting changed
M.M.Pant
What research do we need?
A quantitative way of dealing with qualitative issues such as teacher-learner interaction, remote learning engagement factor, demonstration of learner competencies etc. Fuzzy mathematics applied to define new computer enabled evaluation methodologies would be very useful
M.M.Pant
More knowledge on learning styles
While we acknowledge the existence of a variety of learning styles, the standard teaching system does not allow their adoption
Research needs to be done to see whether suiting learning content delivery to learning style creates a resonance so that vastly larger quantities of learning can be imparted with the right tuning
M.M.Pant
Low Power devices for learner access
Traditional IT industry is a consumption oriented giving more bangs for the same bucks
Does not develop very low cost devices for mass consumption in areas hitherto un-reached.
There is scope for clockwork and other low-power access devices
M.M.Pant
Empowering all stake holders
Teachers Learners
Employers
Parents
Providers of learning
M.M.Pant
The Web Accessibility Initiatives
US Public law 508
Now a decision of the European Union as well
Could be a required policy for all educational sites
M.M.Pant
Manifestations of the Digital Divide
Barriers of language
Barriers of technologies
Legal (IPR) Barriers
Absence of peer group/leadership
M.M.Pant
Towards greater access and equity
Geography is History is enforced by the death of distance
Archimedes had once said ,’Give me a place to stand on and I can move the earth’
Today we can say, Give me a place where I can see a satellite and I can connect you to the world
M.M.Pant
Opportunities for the Exceptionally Brilliant and gifted
Statistically about 1.5% of the population would be exceptionally bright and gifted
In no structures is it possible to create special schools for them and sustaining them is not viable
The Internet makes this possible. Examples exist and can be reinforced and expanded
M.M.Pant
Trans-border Higher Education
Global markets and Shared responsibilities
Trade in Educational services
Public Vs Private Higher Education
Cross-Cultural Sensitivities and Implications
M.M.Pant
Intellectual Property Rights in a Digital Age
The Industrial Age led to movement of property rights from physical tangible to intangible properties
Largely Industrial Property rights such as Trademarks, Patents, Copyright and neighbouring rights evolved to protect Industry
The digital Age throws up completely new situations and challenges
M.M.Pant
The glue that holds together a Virtual Trans-National Education enterprise
A common values system
An easy to deploy technological Infrastructure Access to wide range of learning resources
An effective and fair Digital Rights Management system
M.M.Pant
Emergence of the Virtual Professor
A repository of knowledge that can be shared with learners
Comfortable with using all forms of new technologies to communicate with learners
Establishes communications with learners both synchronously and a-synchronously
His travel and movements have no effect on the virtual classes that are scheduled and the learning events that take place
M.M.Pant
The Virtual Professor’s STUDYIO
A basic multi-media presentation creation system
Bandwidth for web-casting
Technical assistance for making it all work
M.M.Pant
Towards a Knowledge Society
Characteristics
Education as the key to survival
Inclusive society
M.M.Pant
Winning strategies in the future
For Regions
For Nations
For Special Groups
For the Individual
M.M.Pant
Thank You !!!
To continue the dialogue - mail at
Or visit www.mmpant.org
Ask Prof. Pant and submit your query.
I will be happy to respond
