"This report defines and takes the pulse of five vital elements of digital learning. It contributes to the ongoing yet urgent aim of transforming education, and offers steps to recovery through child-centered, equity-driven, and innovative solutions. The five vital elements covered are ICT in educat
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ion policies and financing, digital learning platforms and content, teachers and school leadership, digital literacy, and holistic learning opportunities within and beyond classrooms. The report calls for a whole-of-system approach to digital learning, which includes increased resources, addressing the digital and usage divides, empowering teachers and school leaders, developing digital literacy among all groups, and meeting children where they are through entertaining and educational content and a mix of technologies. Particular attention should be given to gathering more data and evidence, which are sorely lacking; centering initiatives and solutions around the needs of marginalized learners and families, especially in low- and lower-middle income countries; and ensuring a holistic approach that considers all the vitals to make digital learning safe, equitable, engaging and effective." (Publisher description)
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"The study's primary objectives were to assess the state of data on access to digital devices and connectivity in schools in Thailand, which are crucial enablers for e-learning initiatives, and to map the state of access to and use of these devices and connectivity so as to identify potential gaps.
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As digital connectivity becomes paramount to the education sector, it is vital for the Government (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Digital Economy and Science, NBTC) to connect unconnected schools and communities, and to ensure that students have equitable access to devices, learning content and opportunities. Other specific recommendations in this regard are set out below: a) Improve the quality and availability of data on the status of school connectivity [...]; b) Set guidelines for the Internet and devices in schools [...]; c) Improve digital device-to-student ratios in schools [...] d) Enhance connectivity information to include the community [...] e) Increase the availability of information on traffic and bandwidth use from schools [...] f) Improve the affordability of Internet connectivity for students [...] g) Assess the impact of e-learning on education outcomes [...]" (Recommendations, pages 47-48)
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"This Handbook on Online Education in Commonwealth Asia aims to provide a snapshot of online education in the Commonwealth countries that CEMCA serves. It examines the country and institutional policy for online education and assesses online education strategies in the respective countries. It inclu
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des country case studies of Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, and Singapore." (Publisher description)
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"This document addresses open and distance learning (ODL) in a variety of environments where education and learning are increasingly technology mediated, whether it be completely at distance or an increasingly prevalent blended framework where students use technology part of the time. During times o
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f emergency or in response to situations of global significance, it may be necessary for institutions to move learning rapidly and unexpectedly to an ODL environment. While some institutions have systems already in place, many do not and may be significantly challenged by these events. As has been seen during the recent and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, governments, educational institutions, instructors and quality assurance bodies have had to make adjustments to teaching and learning to accommodate the movement restrictions imposed on populations to control the virus. A number of challenges may be encountered during movement to online learning, including ensuring that appropriate content delivered through platforms is available and accessible for all students, that the needs of students with disabilities have been considered, that training for those delivering and receiving the teaching and learning is available, and that appropriate support people can work with the students." (Introduction)
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"This book discusses the role of human computer interaction (HCI) design in fostering digital literacy and promoting socio-cultural acceptance and usage of the latest ICT innovations in developing countries. The book presents techniques, theories, case studies, and methodologies in HCI design approa
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ches that have been used to foster digital literacy, break the socio-cultural barriers to ICT adoption, and promote the widespread usage of the latest innovations in the health, agriculture, economic, education and social sectors in developing countries. The authors provide insights on how crossing disciplines in HCI such as usability design, user centered design, user experience, anticipated user experience, technology acceptance design, persuasive design, philosophical designs, motivational design, social-cultural oriented designs, and other HCI design approaches have promoted digital literacy and stimulated socio-cultural acceptance and the usage of the latest ICT innovations" (Publisher description)
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"ICTs have an enormous role to play in helping society adapt to the dislocations caused by the pandemic. This enhanced role comes in addition to the already central part that digital technologies have assumed in driving innovation, digital disruption and economic growth and development, particularly
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in emerging economies. It is critical, then, that national governments, regional cooperative organizations and NGOs collaborate with industry stakeholders to ensure that digital technologies are used as effectively as possible to soften the economic burden of the pandemic and ease, to the maximum extent possible, the social dislocations associated with it.
This report identifies four main themes that should be addressed globally by regional and national governments supported by national regulatory authorities and industry stakeholders: (i) addressing the digital divide; (ii) driving digital deepening; (iii) effecting digital transformation; and (iv) building digital resilience." (Executive summary)
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"The purpose of this review is to support education practitioners, host country government representatives, donors, implementers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations, and other stakeholders in applying best practices to monitor and evaluate distance learning initiative
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s designed for diverse learners and implemented both within and outside of learning institutions. This review covers the four key distance learning modalities: radio/audio, television/video, mobile phone, and online learning. Printed texts, which are often developed to accompany these first four modalities, can also be a fifth modality in contexts where technology is not used. Most of the data sources were drawn from work in the primary education sub-sector. However, much of the guidance can be applied to secondary and tertiary-level distance learning. This review is also applicable to data collection in both crisis and non-crisis contexts. This review presents a roadmap that guides users through four steps of planning and designing how distance learning delivered through any of these modalities can be monitored and evaluated. Step 1: Determine the Objectives of Monitoring and Evaluating Distance Learning; Step 2: Determine What Will Be Measured (Reach, Engagement, and Outcomes); Step 3: Determine How Data Will Be Collected (In-Person or Remotely); Step 4: Determine the Methods and Approaches for Measurement. Based on emerging global evidence, this review guides users through the process of measuring the reach, engagement, and outcomes of distance learning initiatives. In addition to providing step-by-step guidance, this review provides three overarching recommendations for developing and implementing evidence-based monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) plans for distance learning initiatives." (Executive summary)
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"High-quality digital learning offers potential economic and social advantages but also could easily lead to a widening gap between economically advanced and low-income countries. Within countries without suitable policy, it could also generate increasing inequity between the rich, who can afford th
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e technology, and the poor, who will not be able to access it. The main purpose of this paper is to look at what policies are needed to maintain high-quality and equitable access to digital learning, especially in light of experience from responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper addresses technological, social and age factors influencing access to and uses of digital learning and makes several different policy recommendations for governments, institutions and teachers." (Abstract)
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"Ein Fundus mit 101 praxiserprobten Methoden für die Vorbereitung, Durchführung und Evaluierung von Online-Seminaren. Zusammen mit leicht verständlichen technischen Anregungen bietet dieses Werk Anregungen für alle Weiterbildungsprofis, die die Möglichkeiten des Online-Lernens in ihre Seminarge
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staltung mit einbeziehen möchten. Erleben Sie den Trainingsklassiker '101 e-Learning Seminarmethoden' in einer komplett überarbeiteten zeitgemäßen Neufassung. Das Werk bietet zunächst einfache Tools für EinsteigerInnen ins Online-Lernen wie etwa Bedarfserhebungen oder der Umgang mit Downloads. Es schließen sich Methoden zur Begleitung von Seminaren an. Dies sind Tipps, mit denen Sie bestimmte Phasen Ihrer Seminare für sich und Ihre Teilnehmenden zeitlich und örtlich unabhängiger gestalten. Und schließlich erhalten Sie ein riesiges Repertoire an Methodenbeschreibungen für reine Online-Seminare." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
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"This paper explores cultural inclusivity in online learning design by discussing two international capacity development projects: an online tutor mentor development programme in Sri Lanka and a hybrid physician assistant training programme in Ghana. Inclusivity involves establishing partnerships an
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d conducting needs assessments to maximise the capacity that already exists within a given context, and addressing cultural factors that impact online learning — developing a learning community, negotiating identity, power, and authority, generating social presence, supporting collaboration, engaging in authentic inquiry-based learning, navigating interactions in a second language, and developing co-mentoring relationships to support learning. The paper provides a framework, WisCom (Wisdom Communities) to guide the design of culturally inclusive online learning incorporating lessons learned from international projects. By emphasizing divergent thinking, consensus building, and the exploration of multiple solutions to complex, real-world problems, WisCom maximises opportunities for participants’ diverse backgrounds and experiences to be valued." (Abstract)
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"Afrobarometer findings show that radio and television are the most widely accessible platforms for students seeking to participate in MoE/GES e-learning programs, although rural and poor households are at a disadvantage when it comes to owning these devices. The data show relatively low rates of ac
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cess to the Internet via mobile phone, ownership of computers, and regular use of the Internet, particularly among respondents in rural and poor households, highlighting the difficulties that many students will face in engaging with online learning programs. While most households are connected to the electric grid, more than four in 10 rural and poor households do not have a power supply that works most or all of the time. For both government and civil society, these findings indicate potential learning gaps, as not all students will be able to access e-learning programs from all platforms. This points to the need for strategies to increase students’ participation, particularly targeting rural and poor families, by raising awareness of available televised programs and launching radio-based remote-learning programs as soon as possible. To ensure inclusion and participation in online platforms such as icampus, the government and schools should initiate longer-term plans and investments capable of spreading e-learning infrastructure, irrespective of settlement types and poverty levels, to facilitate access for all students." (Conclusion)
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"There is no one-size-fits-all way in which governments should promote and implement initiatives that use digital technologies to improve the learning outcomes of the most marginalised, and governments always need to take into consideration their local contexts and priorities. However, in very gener
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al terms, the following order of initial priorities and actions is often appropriate: 1. Creating a long-term cross-party vision for ensuring that digital technologies are used to enhance learning by the poorest and most marginalised; 2. Establishing an integrated and holistic cross-government team to deliver that vision; 3. Beginning by ensuring that all teacher training colleges have as high-quality digital infrastructures as affordable, and that pre-service and in-service training programmes are implemented to ensure that teachers are trained in appropriate and relevant pedagogies; 4. Prioritising the specific educational challenges for which digital technologies can have the most significant impact for the most marginalised in your country (this could, for example, be high numbers of refugees, very dispersed island communities, or numerous minority ethnic groups for whom learning content in the main language is inappropriate); 5. Identifying and implementing technology-relevant (in terms of what is both feasible and affordable) approaches to resolve these challenges, remembering that low-tech options (such as radio or TV) and Open Educational Resources can often deliver very cost-effective and resilient options, and that multi-sector partnerships with the private sector and civil society can be valuable in ensuring appropriateness and sustainability; 6. At all times ensuring that security, safety and privacy receive the highest priority in using digital technology for delivering education and training, especially for children and vulnerable adults." (Pages 12-13)
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"This Guidance aims to help teachers understand key issues related to home-based distance learning during COVID-19 school closures and design and facilitate effective learning activities. While we fully recognize the complementary relationship between formal and non-formal education, and continuity
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of studies across education and training levels throughout lifelong learning pathways, this Guidance includes resources, examples and tips for teachers and educators from pre-primary to upper-secondary level." (Page 7)
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"This report, and the survey findings behind it, provides a unique insight into the perspectives of EdTech experts regarding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on education in Africa. It is based on the findings of a survey of the eLearning Africa network, which attracted approximately 1650 respons
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es from respondents in 52 countries in Africa. 15 countries (29%) provide 1217 (73%) of the responses. 52% of the respondents are directly involved in the education sector and 9% are in the ICT sector. 71% work for government or not-for-profit organisations, and 21% for for-profit businesses. 40% are teachers / lecturers / professors, and 13% are ICT / EdTech specialists or entrepreneurs. The sample represents a group of experts rather than a cross-section of the population, yet the findings of the survey are undoubtedly significant [...] Survey respondents were clear in highlighting the three main obstacles for learners in the midst of school shutdown: a lack of access to technology, an unsuitable home learning environment, and a lack of access to learning materials. For teachers, the main impediment was the lack of appropriate training to design and manage distance learning programmes. This was compounded by a lack of infrastructure: electricity, connectivity, devices; and a lack of appropriate learning materials: books, television and internet-enabled devices. The findings are clear: poorer students and those most geographically dispersed are most at risk of missing out on education if there is no conventional school to attend. In addition to these difficulties, respondents noted that most teachers were as inadequately prepared and ill-equipped to deal with this new situation as their students were. And similarly, parents were also ill-equipped to support their children’s education at home. While some governments provided ‘sensitisation’ for teachers and parents, many did not. And 83% of respondents thought that their current school curriculum did not lend itself to distance delivery." (Executive summary)
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