AKE Workshop Series

Creating the Environment for National e-Learning Development:
Good Practice and Lessons Learned
GeSCI AKE Multi-Country Workshop, 3-4
December 2007, Nairobi, Kenya

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• Scaling –up
• Empowerment
• People-centred
• Participation
• Collaboration
• Consensus
• Equity
• Capacity-building
• Accountability
• Sustainability

Some definitions…

e-Learning:

• An approach to facilitate and enhance learning through the use of devices based on both computer and communications technology, including personal computers, CD-ROMs, digital television, and more. ...
• The unifying term to describe the fields of online learning, web-based training, and technologydelivered instruction.
• A force that gives people and organizations the competitive edge to allow them to keep ahead of the rapidly changing global economy.
  http://agelesslearner.com/intros/elearning.html

‘Good’ Practice:

It is a positive action that must:

• be successful
• be innovative
• have a possible multiplying effect or transference to other areas
• be sustainable

[From: http://www.kezenfogva.hu/equalset/index.php?q=en/node/85 ]

The pursuit of efficiency lies at the heart of the concept of best practice: if there is a best way then it is surely more efficient for all agents within a system to follow it. Right?

BUT….

• What spreads fastest: stories of success or of failure?
• The adoption of best practice implies that:
• there is a best way to do something
• we can identify and codify what that thing is
• we can then get others to follow best
• practice, and - that it is desirable that they should do so.

[Adapted from article by David J Snowden, Cynefin Centre for Organisational Complexity -IBM Global Services]

HOWEVER…

Best practice is an important knowledge management function - requires discipline, time and resource.

What is important: Creating a learning ecology that bounds but recognises diversity and builds the dynamics of human interaction and enquiry to lead to better decision making and enablement of innovation.

What constitutes quality (e) learning?

• High levels of interactivity
• Interaction with teacher/tutor, fellow students
• Community based
• Relevant and contextualised
• Addressing real needs
• Appropriate assessment methods

Perceived benefits of e-learning

• Cost-effective
• More individualised learning
  • Students learn at own pace
  • Caters for different learning styles
  • Just in time, not just in case learning
  • Can learn anywhere, anytime

Issues for effective e-learning development and delivery

• needs-based
• improved student outcomes
• impacts on teachers and students
• beneficiaries and casualties
• teacher/trainer preparation
• pedagogy
• materials design
• learner diversity

Pre-conditions for ‘Good’ Practice

• clarity of purpose: aims, target groups, etc.
• holistic, comprehensive approach
• coordinated framework including key stakeholders
• take into account student diversity and context
• apply good teaching and learning principles
• cater for different learning styles
• design materials for different levels of technology usage
• recognise differentials in access and cater for it

Pre-conditions (contd)

• evaluate effectiveness/progress on regular basis
• prepare teachers/trainers beyond minimum competence levels
• focus on communicative and interactive dimensions: blended learning
• create effective student support mechanisms
• do not expect technology to solve all the hard problems

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