Yes there are some barriers,
1. Lack of resources-Computers to experts
2. Problem with the infrastructure..(now I am using my dial-up connection at home…if I want to attach some thing then I will take minutes, some times suddenly it will goes down…mean time I have to pay “per minute basis”
3. No proper direction-
4. Low awareness level of eLearning
5. Political factors-some time might be number one in the priority list)
We have another problem with electric fences.
Derek,I also agree with you. In Sri Lanka literacy rate is 90%.but because of the problem of the resources (only 14 universities operating throughout the island) only 14% of the advanced level students will go to the University. Remaining 86% do have problems. some select professional courses while affluent will go for foreign universities. Once foreign universities try to establish under Sri Lankan university system then politics comes in to play. they argue that this will affect to the free education(in which our country up to advance level students can have total free education).but these people don’t know (or know) that well to do people will go to foreign education and this will affect to so called “middle income category”. I think this scenario unique to the developing countries (but I wonder about our higher literacy rate-it is exceptional!).<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
I always think human factor affect lot. Though there is an argument of lack of resources and infrastructure we should concern about utilization of resources. For that I think there is a need of good leadership. In our countries ADB and some donators always help for the development of e-Learning. But once they did their job we have to discuss about the sustainability of that project too. thats why I am thinking at least two three years they should work with locals and should understand the best outfit too..
Well, little by little it's Europe demystified for me. :/
Bye bye dreams of moving to a country with superfast free wireless internet. Connection is similar to what you describe, but I suspect it's more expensive here. For example I was paying half a minimun wage a month for regular internet connection (broadband). Is it the same proportion there?
Well, thanks for your comments about my English. I must add that I've been studying it for at least 5 hours a week since I was 11 (17 years ago) . Now, it takes me 3 or 4 times longer to write a post in English that it would take me to write it in Spanish- I would be more that happy to help you with your Spanish if needed :)
Well, I have to admit that I'm an advocate of free "por la razon o la fuerza" as our national moto says.
Una profesora me dijo no hace mucho que cuando tus pares te explican aprendes aun mas ya que ellos al entender un asunto le agregan sus propias significaciones, y uno al recoger estas explicaciones está "robando" las significaciones del otro y agregandole las nuestras por lo que te apropias del contenido en mejor forma.
On the other hand I see some scenarios where there is a whole different attitude to education: a sense of gratefulness, engagement and value. (Sometimes missing on my own back door)
Hi Derek! Could you please elaborate on this point? I understand that you've found those traits in developing countries?
Appreciative Inquiry approach
What's that? I guess I'll google it also.
:)
Appreciative Inquiry was developed by David Cooperrider of Case Western Reserve University. It is now a commonly accepted practice in the evaluation of organizational development strategy and implementation of organizational effectiveness tactics.
Appreciative Inquiry is a particular way of asking questions and envisioning the future that fosters positive relationships and builds on the basic goodness in a person, a situation, or an organization. In so doing, it enhances a system's capacity for collaboration and change. Appreciative Inquiry utilizes a 4-stage process focusing on:
The basic idea is to build organizations around what works, rather than trying to fix what doesn't. The approach acknowledges the contribution of individuals, in order to increase trust and organizational alignment. The method aims to create meaning by drawing from stories of concrete successes and lends itself to cross-industrial social activities. It can be enjoyable and natural to many managers, who are often sociable people.
Simplistically, this is starting from the good things that exist, rather than some sort of deficit model on what is wrong, missing or lacking.Thank you for leading this seminar I am really looking forward to it. My name is Monica Macaulay and I am the Online Learning Facilitator at Nicola Valley Institute of Technology in Merritt, British Columbia, Canada. We are an Aboriginal Institution and many of the barriers developing countries face with respect to e-learning are the same barrieres many of our First Nations experience who live on remote reservations. I look forward to putting our ideas together on how we can improve the situation.
Many thanks.
3.
I think trust should be develop in the same way we develop it in f2f classrooms. Setting clear rules at the beginning and using our teacher's sense.
Maybe with online students feedback is even more important because they do not have the classroom interaction, so another thing would be giving appropriate and "fast" feedback.
I haven't been involved in real e-teaching, all my experience has been as a complement to f2f classes, so I am going to guess that students in an e-learning environment will be more anxious so teachers should be even more present for them answering their mails, responding to their posts, etc.
