04. Pan-Commonwealth Forum 4 (PCF4), 2006
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Browsing 04. Pan-Commonwealth Forum 4 (PCF4), 2006 by Title
Now showing 1 - 20 of 184
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ItemOpen AccessA Blended Approach to Emergency Medicine Training: Developing an Integrated Curriculum for Mature Learners(2006-10) Sammy, IanPCF4 // In January 2005, a blended approach using various educational technologies was adopted for the new MSc programme in Emergency Medicine at the St. Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies. This part-time programme was developed in response to the needs for specialist training in Trinidad and Tobago. Modalities for course delivery included traditional didactic lectures and tutorials, and more contemporary and interactive learning approaches of problem-based learning, journal clubs, computer-based tutorials, case-based training exercises and case presentations. Clinical skills training included using simulated patients. This paper describes the blended approach to learning adopted for this course, and explores the following themes from the candidates’ perspectives: the educational experience; relevance of materials presented; scope of information presented and applicability to current practice. Overall, candidates found the methods and materials accessible and acceptable. Areas for improvement include the better integration of skills training with real clinical practice and ensuring that all candidates are comfortable with the IT systems. The modular course format is ideally suited to distance learning, and may provide a solution to Emergency Medicine training in smaller countries that can neither support formal full-time residency programmes, nor allow their doctors to leave their posts to pursue graduate training. // Paper ID 140
- ItemOpen AccessA Gender Analysis of Perceptions on Development of Competencies through a Distance Education Programme(2006-10) Lekamge, DayalathaPCF4 // The Open University is the only university in the Country that provides opportunities for graduate teachers to get their training through the PGDE Programme in the distance mode. The total number as at 31.12.2005 is 2873 out of which 65% are female teachers. These teachers complete their professional training while serving in their schools and attending to family responsibilities. The effectiveness of distance education programmes in developing knowledge, attitudes and skills required by teachers has been questioned time and again though it was expected that teachers, especially females, would be facilitated in improving their qualifications through distance education. // The main objectives of this paper are to identify gender differences in student teachers’ perceptions, marks obtained for Teaching Practice Stage I, continuous assessment marks final examination marks for the course Educational Technology using gender as a criterion variable. // Two hundred eighty nine teachers responded to the questionnaire of whom 59.9% were female teachers. A significant difference could be observed between male and female teachers in the sample in their perceptions on skills related to inclusive education, professional development and development of teaching skills. Further, there was a negative relationship between student teachers’ perceptions and continuous assessment marks. However, when the data of the total student population was analyzed a positive relationship between Teaching Practice marks, Continuous assessment marks and final examination marks could be observed. // Paper ID 236
- ItemOpen AccessA Learncasting Exchange: Using a Mobile-Enabled Electronic Market to Enhance Regional Education and Economic Development(2006-10) Vassell, ClivePCF4 // This paper will introduce an online ‘learncasting exchange' and discuss how it might help to enhance the education of young people and the economic development of a region. // The paper will start with a background discussion covering a number of diverse areas of relevance to using technology to improve prospects for education and regional development. The topics to be covered include: // Economic development // The mobile phone and mobile commerce // Approaches to learning // Electronic markets // Blended learning // Open source software and // Object technology // The paper will then summarise these disparate ideas to distil the key guidelines encapsulated in this writing. It will then use these principles to guide the planning and implementation of an open source application designed to offer some concrete assistance in facilitating the kind of educational and economic development sought by the leaders of the Caribbean and elsewhere. // The paper will finish by outlining the kind of future research and development which might prove useful in this area, and discussing the potential implications of the key deliverables. // Paper ID 298
- ItemOpen AccessA Livelihood Enhancement Community based Distance Learning Pprogramme(2006-10) Kere, JennipherPCF4 // This paper seeks to explore the impact of a non-fromal distance education programme on the learning and livelihood of the women in the fishing industry on the beaches of Lake Victoria and markets in slum dwellings. // The programme widely broadcasts through radio to a general audience. However, the primary target audience uses audio and print materials in organized learning groups facilitated by women selected from the groups, and trained to facilitate learning sessions when and where they choose. They use relatively cheap and easy to handle appropriate technology- solar powered audio-cassette players. // Through user designed series of radio/audio programmes covering a wide range of subjects that include Business Management, Health, HIV/AIDS, Reproductive Health, Mother&Child Health and Women's Rights, the women have improved their income and make savings, diversified their income generation activities and improved their health practices. Thus decreasing their vulnerability to common diseases and HIV/AIDS through poverty prompted casual sexual relations, a contributing factor to high prevalence rates. // The fishermen, who do not normally volunteer to paarticipate in learning activities, are now seeking to participate because they haave been inspired by the positive progress the women are making in their businesses and general development. // Paper ID 107
- ItemOpen AccessA Model for Evaluating Numerical through Computer(2006-10) Saxena, AnuragPCF4 // In recent times the education world has seen the emergence of two efforts at using computers to evaluate the content of essays. The reason behind the emergence of these systems was the difficulty in managing the load of grading the essays and the tendency of the evaluators to shift the focus of assessment to multiple-choice questions. These systems generated a lot of enthusiasm as they not only save time but also provide consistency a computer can deliver. // Present communication tries to emphasize on the age-old concept of "marking schemes". It tries to build its arguments around two theories of learning. Firstly, structural learning theory which postulates that structural analysis is a methodology for identifying the rules to be learned for a given topic and breaking them down into their atomic components and secondly, script theory, which focused on the structure of knowledge and conceptual dependency theory. The key element of conceptual dependency theory is the idea that all the conceptualizations can be represented in terms of a small number of primitive acts performed. // Present paper attempts at building a system that will use the accuracy and consistency of a computer to achieve robust and unbiased student assessment. // Paper ID 273
- ItemOpen AccessA model of ODL to Address Educational Needs of Health Workers in Africa(2006-10) Dixey, RachaelPCF4 // Achieving development goals in health is confounded by shortage of health care staff in poorer countries due to migration to richer countries, and to HIV. Zambia for example has a 48% shortfall of nurses; 2000 Zambian nurses work in the UK alone. Retention is problematic – salaries are low, conditions poor, and professional updating is lacking. Health workers attending overseas universities may be less likely to return home. One response is to improve course provision and professional updating opportunities in-country. Leeds Metropolitan University, with funding from the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission under their distance learning initiative, runs a tailor-made MSc Public Health (Environmental Health and Health Promotion) in Zambia, for nurse tutors, clinical officers and environmental health workers. Using locally relevant curricula, with community-based, student centred, problem-solving approaches, retention may be improved. Greater cost-effectiveness and wider participation are achieved. The paper will discuss how the course is delivered in Zambia, how the partnership developed such as to enable effective delivery of the course, and how sustainable learning can be achieved in a developing country in partnership with a UK University. // Paper ID 114
- ItemOpen AccessA Study of the Factors Influencing the Educational Achievement of the Institutionalized Children in Sri Lanka(2006-10) Zoysa, Srini DePCF4 // An Study of the Factors Influencing the Educational Achievement of Institutionalized Children in Sri Lanka – Srini De Zoysa, Faculty of Education, Open University of Sri Lanka. // The study focuses on disadvantaged children who are being compelled to spend their childhood in Children’s Voluntary Homes . These children are socially and economically deprived and have faced a variety of problematic experiences in their lives. Education represents perhaps the only promise for a better future for these children. // The main objective of the study is to identify the factors influencing educational achievement of institutionalized children. Documentary surveys, interviews, observations, check lists, Emotional and Behavioural Scales and the Socio-Metric method were used for data collection. // The study showed that the educational standards achieved by institutionalized children are relatively low. Multiple interrelated factors, both facilitating and hindering, which influence educational achievement of institutionalized children were identified. // It was suggested that Care services should be based on a clear philosophy, so that administrators, care and teaching staff could make a commitment to support education of these children. Care services should include the provision of sufficient physical infrastructure facilities, introduction of efficient management structures, supply of effective joint training being to carers and teachers, make intensive interactions to give priority to education, administrators, care staff and the teaching staff to make corporate commitment to promote education of the institutionalized children. // Paper ID 135
- ItemOpen AccessAchieving Development Goals in Belize and Barbados via the Mexican EDUSAT model(2006-10) Tun, Maria IsabelPCF4 // The presenter will examine how the tiny and recently independent country of Belize is working toward achieving global development through collaboration with regional territories. The Presenter will show how achievements have been made within the context of the Millennium Goals. Goal 8 of the Millennium Goals aims to “develop a global partnership through development.” In line with this development goal, Target 18 outlines the strategy to bring to fruition Goal 8: “In co-operation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications” (United Nations). // Presenter will show how various sectors have benefited from this partnerships involving new technologies that center on information and communication. The presenter will use personal professional experience as Project Coordinator of the “Regional Satellite-Delivered Distance Education for Teacher Training and Human Development in Rural Areas” sponsored by the Organizations of American States to show how technology can effectively cross borders. This project allowed for small territories to participate in the actual establishment of a system designed to move developing countries toward closing the gaps between those who have and those who do not in the areas of technology, education, and knowledge transfer through education-based technological access via satellite and Internet. // Paper ID 362
- ItemOpen AccessAchieving Development Goals through Cost-effective Open and Distance Learning in Sub-Saharan Africa: What Costs, How Effective?(2006-10) Deane, MichelePCF4 // This paper reports on a research and development project to collect information to inform the construction of a software costing tool for open and distance learning (ODL) teacher education in Africa. Data were collected in five countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (Anglophone and Francophone). In all five cases, to meet the need to provide basic education for all, governments required that large numbers of teachers receive continuing professional development to enhance their qualifications and professional understanding, and ODL was seen as the most cost-effective way to achieve this at scale. While there are some differences in the way each country has set up its ODL teacher training provision, some strong trends emerge, particularly: // - the programme design and content, including the learning resources // - the profiles of trainers and trainees (even though the balance of genders differs according to countries; possible reasons for this will be explored). // - the monitoring and evaluation of trainees that rely on formal assessment systems; // - the increasing use of new technologies which still needs to be developed to improve learning, production of materials and the tracking of students; // - the quality assurance procedures. // These similarities afford opportunities and constraints that are reviewed and analysed. // Paper ID 275
- ItemOpen AccessAchieving Development Goals:Impact of Vocational Programmes of Tamil Nadu Open University(2006-10) Palanichamy, M SPCF4 // Open and Distance Learning has emerged as a powerful instrument for augmenting opportunities in the field of vocational education. The objectives of the study are to develop the competency and skills of the learners after completion of TNOU Vocational Education Programmes for their livelihood. Using innovative technology both print and multimedia approach the nine Programmes viz House-Electrician, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Technician, Four Wheeler Mechanism, Health-Assistant, Pre-Primary Teacher Training, Garment Making, DTP, Plumbing and Catering are offered for immediate employment to the learners. Well-developed practical manual and in plant practical training are provided to the learners to improve their skills. Community Colleges are the service providers for these programmes and they have collaboration with industries for providing practical training and placement. The profiles of the 25,000 learners are school dropouts in the age group of 15-20 who do not have any qualification. 50 percent of the learners are employed in the industries after completion of their study. Thus the Vocational Education of TNOU address achieving development goals through Open and Distance and technology mediated learning. // Paper ID 269
- ItemOpen AccessAchieving Millennium Goal 2: The Challenge of Reaching the Disadvantaged in Sri Lanka(2006-10) Gunawardena, GodallagePCF4 // Education disadvantaged refers to to an adverse situation experienced by a particular group of people in society whereby their access, survival, output and outcomes of schooling are affected in a negative way due to socio-economic, cultural and situational characteristics such as poverty, gender, ethnicity, occupational status, geographical location, war and natural disasters. // In Sri Lanka after four centuries of colonial rule many groups in society were deprived and disadvantaged with the colonial powers controlling all resources for the use of the metropolis. // Several progressive welfare and legislative measures, such as free and compulsory education, coeducational schools, and free textbooks and meals, implemented from the 1940s have resulted in an improvement of literacy, and the level of education of larger masses, yet have not reached the disadvantaged as expected. // This paper will address the major concerns related to the school system, medium of instruction and school curriculum to analyze the disadvantageous structures that prevent the disadvantaged from achieving their right to education, particularly in a context where the national vision has shifted from constructing a socially just and equitable society to a vision of an economically competitive society. // Paper ID 165
- ItemOpen AccessAddressing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment through Distance Education: A Case of Programme for Self Help Group Facilitators by YCMOU(2006-10) Joshi, AnantPCF4 // Capacity building is an essential aspect of women’s empowerment. Self Help Group (SHG) movement in country like India has played very important role in capacity building of women. Many NGOs have done good deal of work for SHGs. The facilitators work on behalf of the NGOs for formation and stabilisation of SHGs. The facilitator withdraws from the group once the group is stabilised. This is a very skillful task and the facilitator acquires required knowledge, skills and competence only through the experience. However it was found that there is a need of more than 10 million facilitators only in the State of Maharashtra (a State in India) and getting competent and committed facilitators was the main problem. YCMOU, one of the State Open Universities in India in collaboration with the NGOs developed a certificate programme for SHG facilitators. The endeavour of the development of the programme being collaborative in nature and having the direct relevance to women’s empowerment, was supported by Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU). The systematically conducted pilot testing of the programme indicated that there were significant changes at the knowledge and skill levels of the prospective facilitators. The paper presents the success story of the programme. // Paper ID 119
- ItemOpen AccessAddressing Health MDGs with ODL(2006-10) Walker, DavidPCF4 // The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) underpin COL’s past three year plan (2003-2006) and current (2006-2009) with three of the Goals focused on health (reduction of infant mortality, improvement of maternal health, and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases). COL’s partnership with the World Health Organization has identified key players, mainly in-country non-governmental organisations who are addressing the health concerns of disadvantaged groups. COL’s has worked with these organizations by providing audio and video production digital technology and accompanying training, towards creating content to reach greater numbers of people with appropriate health information in the linguistic and cultural context of the targeted group(s). Delivery of training has been in the form of radio, television and village cinema events (projector, screen, generator and DVDs that the NGO has created in the form of skits). // COL’s health activities have been implemented in Sri Lanka, South Africa, Swaziland, The Gambia, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands Guyana and Barbados. // This is one effort of many that are taking place in different countries that have been severely affected by HIV/AIDS across all sectors of society. The session will discuss examples of how health training has addressed the MDGs. // Paper ID 434
- ItemOpen AccessAddressing the HIV Epidemic in Ghana through Open and Distance Education(2006-10) Aggor, ReubenPCF4 // When the first person was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Ghana in 1986, it was seen as a health problem. This conception has since changed into a development issue pregnant with grave consequences. The government, development partners and civil society organisations teamed up to tackle the problem before infection rates went beyond the 3.7% recorded in 2003. The face-to-face educational approach benefited only a limited number the population at risk, and at specific locations and times. // This became a concern to the Institute of Adult Education, University of Ghana, so in partnership with UNFPA, Ghana AIDS Commission, Police Hospital and the West African AIDS Foundation, it decided to adopt the ODL methodology to address the issue. A six module ODL course was developed and delivered to four batches of 1,756 learners between October 2003 and March 2006. // Outcomes include: // *increased participation than when the Institute used the face-to-face approach // *participants ranged from secondary school leavers to PhD holders // *teachers and pastors were the two groups most represented //* graduates from the programme have been engaged on HIV projects to educate others, especially in rural communities // * community groups and NGOs have sponsored participants on the programme. // Paper ID 307
- ItemOpen AccessAgriculture for Sustainable Livelihood through DE(2006-10) Kulatunga, GaminiPCF4 // The Open University with the assistance of Operation Days Work of Norway has launched in 2005, a ertificate programme on Agriculture for Sustainable Livelihood. This is a follow up programme of the Rural Communication Project that was completed in 2004, undertaken by the Rural Research Unit (RRU) of OUSL and COL, which identified technologies that are of immediate relevance to the rural poor. The ability of the rural people to adapt technologies to suit their needs was demonstrated. // RRU decided to embark on a programme for the rural youth using a combination of distance learning methods and learning by doing. Norwegian Operation Day’s Work approved the concept of taking technology to underserved distant regions to empower youth to seek livelihoods in their own situation instead of migrating to the urban areas . // The Open University began the programme, operating five rural study centres in remote locations catering to 90 students, supported by five animators. The programme is conducted in Sinhala and Tamil using printed material supported by work done using local resources. The main activities chosen by the students address rural food needs and value addition to agricultural produce. On completion of the students’ projects , in March 2006, the students will be awarded a certificate in Agriculture for Sustainable Livelihood. // Plans are afoot to expand the programme to two more centres from this year. In the coming years emphasis will be paid to meeting energy needs, as it has been identified as a crucial constraint that hampers rural development. // Paper ID 35
- ItemOpen AccessAgriculture for Sustainable Livelihood through DE(2006-10) Kulatunga, GaminiPCF4 // The Open University with the assistance of Operation Days Work of Norway has launched in 2005, a certificate programme on Agriculture for Sustainable Livelihood. This is a follow up programme of the Rural Communication Project that was completed in 2004, undertaken by the Rural Research Unit (RRU) of OUSL and COL, which identified technologies that are of immediate relevance to the rural poor. The ability of the rural people to adapt technologies to suit their needs was demonstrated. RRU decided to embark on a programme for the rural youth using a combination of distance learning methods and learning by doing. Norwegian Operation Day’s Work approved the concept of taking technology to underserved distant regions to empower youth to seek livelihoods in their own situation instead of migrating to the urban areas. The Open University began the programme, operating five rural study centres in remote locations catering to 90 students, supported by five animators. The programme is conducted in Sinhala and Tamil using printed material supported by work done using local resources. The main activities chosen by the students address rural food needs and value addition to agricultural produce. On completion of the students’ projects, in March 2006, the students will be awarded a certificate in Agriculture for Sustainable Livelihood. Plans are afoot to expand the programme to two more centres from this year. In the coming years emphasis will be paid to meeting energy needs, as it has been identified as a crucial constraint that hampers rural development. // Paper ID 35
- ItemOpen AccessAn African Experience in Providing a Digital Library Service: the African Virtual University Example(2006-10) Ngimwa, PaulinePCF4 // This paper will share the African Virtual University’s experience in making digital learning resources easily accessible to its partner institutions across Africa in the most cost-effective way. The first lesson we have learnt is that there is currently inadequate bandwidth to support access to these digital resources. This is supported by a number of studies that have been carried out in the course of the last three years. The studies further show the negative impact these low bandwidth levels have had on the overall access, utilization and usefulness of the digital resources to the learner and faculty in African universities. In addition this has directly impacted on the level of basic information literacy in a modern electronic environment which most of the Africa students for the first time when they join tertiary education. // A discussion about how the AVU is investing in alternative creative solutions in response to these access problems will be presented. This includes a project to expand bandwidth through VSAT deployment in the partner institutions at an affordable cost by aggregating demand. In addition to this, the paper will discuss how local servers are being used to store and make available digital content that would otherwise require huge bandwidth if they were to be made available online, thus making it possible to easily access targeted sets of resources in ways that are both pedagogically effective and cost-effective. // Paper ID 196
- ItemOpen AccessAn Alternative Pathway for Open Learning and Skills Training through Distance Education in Papua New Guinea(2006-10) Paul, JohnPCF4 // National Education Department recognizes that there is a natural consensus to make education a life long need for all citizens, distance education has both opportunities and challenges to cater for traditional learners for education qualifications, professionals to upgrade knowledge and skills to the communities to acquire skills and knowledge and information. // This paper provides a unique platform for sharing and exchanging ideas in perspective of Open and Distance Learning in relation to national development needs, institutional capacities, collaboration and sharing resources, globalization and ICT enabled education and more profoundly to quality of program delivery. // Paper ID 431
- ItemOpen AccessAn Estimation of 'Gender Sensitivity' Among College Going Adolescent Girls - A Developmental Approach(2006-10) Rajguru, HemantPCF4 // BACKGROUND: // In majority of developing and underdeveloped countries, women are considered second-class citizens. Violence against women is on a rise. The gendering process has subjugated women. The present study dealt with ‘Gender sensitivity’, intending to modify their attitudes about themselves and other women. // College-going adolescent girls are on the threshold of becoming responsible citizen. Their notion of self-worth as women, if changed, we might succeed in altering their psychological make-up. The ‘Workshop’ method with innovative techniques provided in-depth discussion and review of the subject from all angles. // OBJECTIVES: // 1. Estimation of Gender Sensitivity of college going adolescent girls. // 2. Development of a workshop manual. // 3. Execution of specially designed workshop. // 4. Testing effectiveness of the workshop. // METHODOLOGY: // 1. Sample size: Total population 1200- sample drawn 100. // 2. ‘One pre-test --two post-tests’ pattern of research design. // 3. Questionnaire of 100 items administered -before and after execution of workshop. // 4. Comprehensive ‘workshop manual’ prepared giving minute details. // 5. Critical appraisal of ‘workshop manual’ by two ‘Gender Experts’ // 6. Effectiveness and retention value of learnt concepts was determined. // IMPORTANT FINDINGS: // 1. In the pre-test 48.8 % participants advocated gender-biased standpoint. Where as in the post-test, only 14.7 % respondents held on to it. // 2. More than 85 % had formed a ‘gender balanced’ perspective. // 3. Gender experts rated ‘Workshop Manual’ to be very effective. // Paper ID 149
- ItemOpen AccessAssessment of Distance Learning Programs and Factors that Contribute to the Dropout Rate among Distance Students at the University of Zambia(2006-10) Ngoma, Patrick SeletaPCF4 // The study sought to assess the distance learning programs and factors that contributed to the drop out rate among distance learning students at the University of Zambia. The sample consisted of 91 distance students (66males,25females) who attended Residential School in 2004. A simple random sampling method was used to identify the subjects. // A questionnaire was used to collect data. Some objectives of the study were to: establish the main factors that led to some distance students dropping out from studies; to establish whether quality of course materials affected learning, and determine ways of arresting the situation.Descriptive statistics were used to analyse findings.Results showed that 98% of the respondents were employed and on self-sponsorship. They also showed factors that contributed to the drop out like limited self-sponsorship, receiving misleading time-tables leading to missing examinations,and it took too long to finish studies.Respondents suggested solutions to the problems like use of Internet in teaching; and government should provide loans to students in order to access higher distance education. // It was hoped that the findings would benefit the University administration and other stakeholders in the improvement of distance education in Zambia. // Paper ID 112