You Think You Have Problems Try Implementing Technology-Based Distance Education in Emerging Nations, Clayton R. Wright

8/14/2019 You Think You Have Problems Try Implementing Technology-Based Distance Education in Emerging Nations, Clayton R. Wright

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Try Implementing Technology-based

Distance Education in Emerging Nations

Clayton R. Wright, PhD

[email protected]

You Think You Have Problems?


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What do I base my observations on?

Copyright. All rights reserved by Clayton R. Wright


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The focus will be on solutions that are applicable anywhere.


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Current Challenges in Emerging Nationsas Technology-based Distance Education Is Implemented

Lack of appreciation for distance education

Lack of political support

Lack of effective leadership

Lack of trained personnel Lack of electrical and communicationsinfrastructure


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Challenges

Poor selection of technology

High cost of technology

Lack of planning for technology

Use of proprietary software

Lack of distance learning materials

Poorly designed e-learning


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Challenges

Lack of learning support Lack of an effective and

efficient distribution system for

quality learning materials Ineffective quality assurance Lack of sustainability


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A Few Solutions


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Overcome the Resistance

to Distance Education

Ensure that the DE program meets

the same standards as the

conventional program

Raise the profile of DE by ensuringthat there are satisfied learners and

graduates

Provide adequate resources so that

DE is not perceived as second-

rate education Employ the same instructors or

tutors in both the conventional and

distance program


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Adopt or Adapt Materials

Level 1: Re-brandingby adding aninstitutions name,logo, and contact information

Level 2: Localizing

by adding local examples Level 3: Contextualizing

bychanging the content andsyntax to match the localaudience.

Level 4: Adapting materialsfor e-learning

Wawasan Open University

Penang, Malaysia Educators must overcome the

not-invented-here syndrome.


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Adapting Materials

Educational intentEducational intent Intended audience in terms of level ofIntended audience in terms of level of

education, profession, and ability to understandeducation, profession, and ability to understand

English or the language used in the materialsEnglish or the language used in the materials Learning stylesLearning styles The social, political, and cultural aspects of theThe social, political, and cultural aspects of the

countries in which the materials will be usedcountries in which the materials will be used

LanguageLanguage InteractivityInteractivity Delivery mechanismDelivery mechanism OwnershipOwnership


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Outsource Course Development

Determine the benefits of outsourcing to the institution

Determine whether course developers can be contacted

directly or whether a third party must be involved

Prepare a preliminary contract for the work to be completed

Provide the course developers with an overall outline of the

course to be developed

Ask the developers to provide

a blueprint of the course Carefully review the blueprint

ensuring all aspects of good

course design have been

incorporated into the plan


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Outsourcing

Finalize the contract with the coursedevelopers

Provide the course developers with the

institutional house style Assign an instructional designer, faculty

member, or department chair to:

monitor the progress of the course

developers,

review the drafts as they are submitted,and

provide constructive and timely feedback

to the course developers.


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Outsourcing

Consider employing a local course

developer to localize the course materials

and to include local examples, case

studies, and assignments Assign an external course assessor

review the course

Ensure that an editor reviews the material

Sign-off the contract

Forward the completed course to the

librarians and media personnel

Pilot and revise the course


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Select Open Source Software

is not robust (able to handlenumerous and variedtransactions at the same time).

does not have the features

students and instructors need.

Also, it must be flexible, reliable, capable, and scaleable.

Free open-source software

may be more costly if it:


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Cooperatives

The African Virtual Universitywww.avu.org

The Association of African Distance Learning Centreshttp://www.aadlc.com/

Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealthhttp://www.col.org/colweb/site/pid/100

WikiEducatorwww.wikieducator.org
http://www.avu.org/http://www.aadlc.com/http://www.col.org/colweb/site/pid/100http://www.wikieducator.org/http://www.wikieducator.org/http://www.col.org/colweb/site/pid/100http://www.aadlc.com/http://www.avu.org/


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Current Uses Transmit attendance or submit grades Contact students about class activities

or cancellations Enable students to contact tutors Record and distribute photographs

and audio or podcast recordings Submit assignments and write a blog Take tests (e.g., Studwiz)

Teach literacy Provide job listings and health

information to low income residents Enable doctors to diagnose patients

living in remote areas

Explore the Educational Use of

Mobile Technology


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Mobile Technology

The future of mobile learning is unwritten,but it may become the foundation of anexponential growth in distance learning.

Mobile appliances areubiquitous, affordable,

and have wireless

capabilities that can reach

urban and rural areas that

lack a terrestrialinfrastructure.


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Ensure Quality Standards Are

Implemented and Maintained

organizational goals with actual

achievement, instructor training,

course development,

instructor-learning interactions,

student support, assessment, and

paths of student success upon

graduation.

Quality assurance systems should

continually measure the congruency of:


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Quality

Quality is achieved if standards or criteria are

set, monitored, and adjusted as the needs arise.

Whenever a standard is not met, those who

pursue excellence must take corrective actions.

Quality is a result of a culture of excellence.


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Quality

The e-learning courses should:

Engage and motivate the learner

Demand that learners interact with it,

with their peers, and their community Encourage critical thinking, creativity,

and problem-solving

Provide opportunities foronline practice

and knowledge transfer

Offertimely, constructive, relevant,and

frequent feedback

Provide links to resources beyond the

content and the learners communities


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Questions?


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Thank You!

Clayton R. Wright

[email protected]

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You Think You Have Problems Try Implementing Technology-Based Distance Education in Emerging Nations, Clayton R. Wright