Educational Technology Implementation in Developing Countries Recurring Issues, Clayton R. Wright

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Clayton R. Wright, PhD

2009 No. 1

Technology Implementation

in Developing Countries:Recurring IssuesClayton R. Wright

[email protected]


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2009 No. 2

Nelson Mandela andGraca MachelThe Globe and Mail, May 1, 2002, p.A15

Education can be the difference between alife of grinding poverty and the potential for afull and secure one; between a child dying

from preventable disease, and familiesraised in healthy environments; betweenorphans growing up in isolation, and thecommunity having the means to protectthem; between countries ripped apart by

poverty and conflict, and access to secureand sustainable development.


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2009 No. 3

Getting on the bandwagon

Shouldnt it be about access, equity, andthe distribution of quality educationalproducts to a wide audience?

Is distance education the best use ofscarce resources?

Others are doing it, so why not us?

It will save money and human resources.


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2009 No. 4

Following the money

Developing countries have adoptedtechnologies and software associated

with external funding agencies.


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Clayton R. Wright, PhD2009 No. 5

Selecting technology that iseffective

There is a tendency to use themost sophisticated technologywhen simple, non-Web-based

technology may be best.

for its intended use and the audience.


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Technology is only part of the

transformation.

One must also:

be committed to its implementation, provide resources,and ensure that accessibility and equity are addressed;

adjust the curriculum; train the instructors;

maintain and support the technology;

provide feasible and continuous assessments;

adjust organizational policies; provide leadership that is flexible, open to new ideas, andwilling to make decisions.


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Lack of sustainable & accessible

infrastructure

Leading to:

alternative power sources such as solarand windand wind

technological devices thatthat use minimal poweruse minimal poweror have built-in electrical generating devices

the establishment of wireless networks


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Cost of bandwidth

The cost of bandwidth canbe 20 to 40 times the cost

in the developed world.

A fixed Internet line in Rwanda costs$90 US per month and wireless Internet

$63 per month. However, the average

Rwandan makes $220 US a year.


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Imperialism of courseware

Some suffer from the not-invented-here syndrome andfeel that courses from western societies are being forceddown their throats when, in fact, they have a choice.

Western courses

introduce western values.


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Linguistic and cultural diversity

The implementation oftechnology does not meanthat cultural and socialdifferences disappear.Sometimes, the differencesare magnified.

Some countries have more than 20 languages.Some cultural groups have an oral tradition.Some groups object to the introduction of critical thinking.


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Low respect given to distance

education

Face-to-face instruction is stillconsidered the standard bywhich all other forms ofeducational delivery is judged.


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Quality Assurance

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 organizational goalswith actual achievement,

Quality assurance systems should receive a higher priority than they currently have.


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e-Learning does not mean

The creation of electronic page turners.

Effective e-learning courses are interactiveand engage the learner. They requirelearners to search, compile, analyze,interpret,and apply data from the world

around them.


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Cost of equipment

Educational institutions and governments must assessthe true cost of the technology:

initial purchase cost,

software,

training, and

maintenance.

Hardware costs may comprise only a quarter toone-third the cost of the actual cost of ownership.


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One Laptop Per Child Project

Is competition always healthy orcan it be detrimental?

Intel offers the Classmate for $300 US. Lenovo (IBM Thinkpad) offers a$199 US computer to 800 million rural Chinese who earned an average of$560 US in 2006. Their wages are increasing at a rate of 10% per year.


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Limited resources

External funding may not always beavailable now and in the future.

Thus, people need to collaborate,especially when developing anddelivering courses.

WikiEducator African Virtual University Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth


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Recognition of those who will likely succeed

Successful online students are likely to: be highly-motivated, be well-organized,

be good time managers, have supportive family and colleagues, be able to tolerate ambiguity, be flexible, goal-oriented, and interested in using technology.


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Recognition of those who will likely succeed

Distance education seems to be ideal for those who have full-Distance education seems to be ideal for those who have full-time jobs and family responsibilities, are house-bound, aretime jobs and family responsibilities, are house-bound, aregeographically dispersed, and are far away from home.geographically dispersed, and are far away from home.

Adult learners are often motivated if they obtainaccreditation, a salary increase, and/or promotion.

(contd)


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Student barriers

As humans tend to be social beings, tutors,As humans tend to be social beings, tutors,

study groups, and the involvement of family andstudy groups, and the involvement of family andpeers must be built into the program.peers must be built into the program.

Students need and want feedback that is timely,Students need and want feedback that is timely,effective, and nurturing.effective, and nurturing.

Students may need access to financial support,Students may need access to financial support,

technologies, technological support, learningtechnologies, technological support, learningresources, and academic advisers.resources, and academic advisers.


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Faculty barriers

Faculty may not support a learning system that isdifferent from the one they are used to.

Institutions may value research and publications ratherthan the time and effort required for distance education.

Copyright: Who owns the material that faculty produce?

Faculty need traininging on the effectiveon the effective

use of technology and how toand how totroubleshoot problemsems.


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Lack of up-to-date educational resources

Faculty can re-brand, localize,Faculty can re-brand, localize,or contextualize open-sourceor contextualize open-source

materials.materials.

They can also obtain theThey can also obtain theeGranary Digital LibraryeGranary Digital Libraryor Internet in a Box.or Internet in a Box.


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2009 No. 22

Implementing mobile learning

Mobile devices are more affordable than

computers, are easy to use, and are everywhere.

How can mobile devices be used successfully inthe developing world?


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2009 No. 23

Connect African Summit:Bridging the Digital Divide, Nov. 2007

Interconnect all African capitals and major citieswith broadband connections by 2012

Connect villages to broadband by 2015

Adopt key regulatory measures that promoteaffordable, widespread access to ICT services

Support the development of a critical mass of ICTskills

Adopt a national e-strategy and one flagship e-

government, e-commerce, and e-health servicesin each country by 2012 and the latest 2015.

Note: US$55 billion was pledged by variousagencies to support this initiative.


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2009 No. 24

There are many reasons for the growth (ofdistance education) but none is as compelling as

the hunger for learning felt by those whohave been denied it for generations.

Dr. Raj Dhanarajan, CEO of Wawasan Open University, Malaysia, andPast President of the Commonwealth of Learning

Open Learning, 2001, 16(1), 61.


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2009 No. 25

Examples of successful distance educationinstitutions in the developing & emerging

world

Chinas Central Radio and Television University (CCRTVU),

Indias Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)

Indonesias Universitas Terbuka (UT)

Thailands Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU)

University of South Africa (UNISA)


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2009 No. 26

Distance education ventures seem to haveproved that many individuals in our societies,regardless of the extent of prior learning, are

perfectly capable of self-directed learning attertiary levels, if only instruction is designedsensitively and sensibly, respecting the learnerand supporting him or her in learning.

CEO of Wawasan Open University, Malaysia, andPast President of the Commonwealth of Learning

Open Learning, 2001, 16(1), 62-63.

Dr. Raj Dhanarajan


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2009 No. 27

Recurring Issues and PotentialSolutions

Getting on the bandwagon Following the money Selecting technology that is effective for its intended use and the audience Technology is only one part of educational transformation Lack of infrastructure Cost of bandwidth

Imperialism of courseware Linguistic and cultural diversity Low respect given to distance education Quality assurance Cost of equipment One Laptop Per Child Project Limited resources

Recognition of those who will likely to succeed Student barriers Faculty barriers Lack of up-to-date educational resources Implementing mobile learning


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2009 No. 28

Discussion

Do these issues sound familiar?

How are they being addressed?

Are there other issues?


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2009 No. 29

There is a world

[email protected]

in which distance educationis a promise for a betterlife and not just an

alternative to existingeducational offerings.

E-Learning is the way forward.


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2009 N 30

Terima Kasih! Asante! Merci! Thank you!

Clayton R. Wright

[email protected]

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Educational Technology Implementation in Developing Countries Recurring Issues, Clayton R. Wright