05. Conference Proceedings & Working Papers
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Browsing 05. Conference Proceedings & Working Papers by Subject "Aptus"
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PublicationOERs Taking Schools from Resource Poor to Resource Rich( 2016-11)A rapidly growing number of schools in developing countries are introducing packages of OERs through offline solutions such as APTUS, Rachel, Internet In A Box etc. Such solutions typically deliver thousands of teaching videos, free books and text books, digital dictionaries and encyclopaedias, interactive exercises, real time student progress details etc. The schools they are delivered to typically have few educational resources, undertrained teachers and poor teaching and learning support systems. The paper will draw on several years of experience in Pacific Small Island States in implementing a range of ICT4E projects and provide insights into issues raised by this new approach of flooding schools with OERs. It will critically evaluate much of the developed world approaches to OERs for relevance, noting they come from reasonably well functioning education systems with well trained teachers, adequate resources and support systems and an ICT and information literate population. The paper will attempt to answer the question – What do we need to do to ensure maximum learning benefits come from such use of such OERs. To do this, it will examine the method and practices of deploying and accessing these OERs and identify gaps and inadequacies and make recommendations to address them// Paper ID 155 -
PublicationSpeech at Canada House Reception for the Ninth Pan-Commonwealth Forum( 2019-03-12)Delivered by Professor Asha Kanwar, President & CEO, Commonwealth of Learning, at the launch of the Ninth Pan-Commonwealth Forum, 12 March 2019, Canada House, London, UK.
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PublicationThe iBox Technology-Enabled Teaching and Learning in Pre- and Post-COVID Ghana( 2022-09)PCF10 Sub-theme: Inspiring Innovations // Prior to Covid-19, some young private Ghanaian technologists, inspired by COL’s APTUS dongle, undertook a project toward solving the high cost of internet connectivity and the challenges related to equity, access, quality and gender. Their research produced an offline system called the iBox along with a corresponding online iCampusgh.com for learners, teachers, parents and school managers. It was adopted in 2014 by Ghana’s Ministry of Education through the Centre for National Distance Learning and Open Schooling (CENDLOS). Appropriate e-content was also developed by selected teachers. The product became a national solution during the Lockdown. // The system offers lessons in text, quiz, video, audio and laboratory simulation formats. Its unique learner management system (LMS) generates individualized assessment report sheet along with other support features on a dashboard. It supports learning at one’s own pace, is gender sensitive and is convenient for some persons with disabilities (PWD). // This paper considers how adapted and localized technologies can help bridge the digital divide in lower income communities, using the case of the iBox system. It explores the spirit of collaboration within the Pan-Commonwealth education in areas of technology, pedagogy and training. // Paper ID 9015
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PublicationUse of Tablet Computers to Improve Access to Education( 2016-11)A research project was carried out in using mobile learning to increase access to education. This project is contributing to the achievement of Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) “inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. The mobile learning project involved the use of mobile technology to deliver learning materials to students to provide flexibility of access. Students used tablet computers to access electronic learning materials from the Aptus local server without having to connect to the internet. The Aptus system is portable and was designed by the Commonwealth of Learning to allow learners to connect to digital learning platforms and access course materials without the need for internet access. The project was implemented in a school in Pakistan. A total of 74 Grades 8, 9, and 10 students were involved in this project. The research revealed positive impact on students and on learning as a result of their participation in the mobile learning project. The results from the research study indicated that students are better able to use the mobile technology for learning. Both students and parents also reflected that the project increased the students’ knowledge on the use of tablet for learning. Parents shared that the mobile learning project increased their children interest in study. This was also acknowledged by teachers that the students were taking more interest in classroom learning and concentrated on their tablets during study. Students were given content pre-test and post-test. The post-test scores were significantly higher than the pre-test scores, indicating the use of the tablets for learning improved students’ performance. // Paper ID 154