Comments on: eLearning’s Promise: Will New Models Scale to Educate Youth?

By: Twanna Poister

Twanna Poister — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:07:53 +0000

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By: Beverly Swanigan

Beverly Swanigan — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 18:19:39 +0000

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By: @jamesbt

@jamesbt — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:24:29 +0000

You're absolutely right, Cavin: there is a lot that can be done w/a decent national fiber backbone. In fact, we (Jhpiego) are involved in an eLearning project in Ethiopia where we're doing just that. The plan is to deliver standardized static content (i.e. modules & courses) to all 13 medical schools and also leverage the high-speed connectivity for real-time videoconferencing & lectures (which will allow schools to benefit from limited subject matter expertise that is distributed across the country).

By: @jamesbt

@jamesbt — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:18:24 +0000

Your mention of "foundation, infrastructure and context" reminded me of the "opportunity, capacity and motivation" framework I shared in an earlier EduTechDebate around ICT4E sustainability: see "Sustaining rather than sustainable ICT4E," http://edutechdebate.org/ict4e-sustainability/sus… All that to say that I agree with you. In order for eLearning – or any other ICT-supported intervention – to be successful one needs to consider much more than simply the technology. In fact, the technology is often the easiest component.

By: Saurabh

Saurabh — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 18:31:00 +0000

Often the new discussion about most matters "e" reminds me of how the developing world like India responds to most things new. A rather general response of those who have access to new knowledge is that they could have it done it themselves. Often I find claims by body-shopping Indian tech companies that are still operating at 4 to 5 generations behind the global technology use benchmark, save for the global companies operating in India, that India can "teach technology to the world". My knee-jerk response to them has constantly been that they have just about beginning to cross tech 101.

Similar is the case about e-learning. E-learning requires a foundation for the learner, an infrastructure and an environment that requires that learning to become contextual or meaningful.

While leapfrogging is just as natural as inertia, just to get to e-learning, India needs to work on all the above three aspects.. foundation, infrastructure and context.

Precisely why OLPC seems like a great idea for India. But its policy planners live on another planet. They have not evolved beyond trying to respond to call of the political bosses, who often seem to have a much longer vision and an ability to manage complexity despite an apparently questionable educational journey.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:45:17 +0000

Great share but I wonder how effective elearning would be in the real world. Personally, I still believe that learning in a room with a real professor is still the best way to learn. But with situations like this is a great way to educate and learn as well.

By: James BonTempo

James BonTempo — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:33:21 +0000

Just in case you didn't know, last year the US Department of Education published a meta-analysis of research done on the effect of online learning on educational outcomes. One interesting finding: a blended approach - combining online with face-to-face - was more effective than either completely online or face-to-face learning (in order of decreasing efficacy). A review of the study from Inside Higher Ed can be found at http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/06/29/onl... And you can download the full report at http://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/tech/evidence-ba... This evidence will certainly be informing our approach to learning technology @ Jhpiego...

By: Cavin Mugarura

Cavin Mugarura — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:27:49 +0000

Many countries in developing countries are plagued with slow and intermittent internet. The positive aspect is that several countries have started laying national backbones running on fiber cables. E Learning, and other e initiatives should target the deployment of online materials on national backbones, rather than relying on Internet connectivity, where its hard or impossible to transmit large files with limited bandwidth.

By: Nicola Ferralis

Nicola Ferralis — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:04:28 +0000

Robyn, those already exists, at least at college level: http://ocw.mit.edu/ http://www.youtube.com/user/UCBerkeley But that's only one side of the story. What about course assessment, homework, in other words creative and dynamic content? I think the opportunity is more for a new approach in using the technology dynamically, rather than simply using a new medium for a very traditional lecture-style teaching...

By: Robyn Fisher

Robyn Fisher — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:45:50 +0000

What about providing developing countries with access to relevant iTunesU-type classroom lectures from reputable schools/universities? They could be packaged courses, provided on mobile devices, or projected for an entire room. Problem is downloading/streaming video content. But I love the possibility of providing access to Harvard-quality lectures to those who can't afford it. These lectures could eventually be connected to ebooks, student community, and online testing/certification.