Here and Now or Coming in the Future? eLearning in Continuing Education in Africa

Here and Now or Coming in the Future ? eLearning in Continuing Education in Africa James Kariuki Njenga

Layout
Introduction
Here and now
Coming in the future
Benefits of eLearning for CE
Challenges of eLearning in Africa
Discussion

Introduction
The ICT revolution
Changing terminologies
Brick and mortar, click and learn, brick and click
Will we still be calling it eLearning in 2050
Do we have correspondence education? Digital cameras?

Here and now

Coming in the future

CHALLENGES

Power remains one of the most expensive cost manufacturing firms bear in Africa accounting to over 50% of the productions costs in some countries.
Africa has the least electrification rate in the world, at 24% compared to the world average of 73% with many rural areas still uncovered by the main grids since 10% of the population covered is in urban and industrial centers
But even then, the majority in urban centers in Africa are poor.

Overall, infrastructure is underdeveloped in most rural areas in Africa.
The cost of communication, and communication technologies is prohibitive in Africa.

“ an average university in Africa has no more bandwidth than the amount found in a residential connection in Europe or the United States” that is always strained; pays on average 50 times more than a typical US university per Kbps/month ; and the quality is low without firm commitments of policy from the internet providers of guaranteed uptimes - (Hawkins, 2007) Source: Internet World Stats, 2008

Africa has conservative and restrictive policies that serve as hindrances to the use of eLearning or technologies that promote eLearning
HEIs in Africa to address policy issues
creating proactive and reactive policies
manage uncritical acceptance
Manage the techno-economic and socio-systems paradigms
What constitutes access to technology for teaching and learning?
Time?
Distance?
Population?

Most of our university’s top management are living in the past. Until they accept the use of technology for teaching and learning, we are going nowhere The new teaching and learning paradigms calls for a complete “shift” of the way we teach and learn

Lack of skilled manpower in Africa in the use of eLearning means: Hindrance to its use Lack or limited research in eLearning in (for) Africa
The implications of these are:
The majority who are in need and cannot afford are left out
Limited enrolments
HE is limited to low cost, low quality education programs
HEIs getting involved in uncoordinated infrastructural development that end up being too costly

Challenges (n)
Cultural identity
Economic vulnerability
Westernization
modernity
Authenticity
contextualization

BENEFITS

Producing the workforce of today and tomorrow Creation of networks of professionals extending boundaries

Flexibility
Content and delivery
Pace
Place
Time
Easy management of learning and the learning process

Creation of repositories of intellectual and human capital
CC
OER
Copyleft
Educommons etcs
Improved retention, motivation and completion rates****

Increased interactivity, support and communication. Address the demand of Higher education

Strategies for the future
Formation of networks
Fostering relationships between HEIs, students and their environments
Dealing with human resources
Proper coordination and formation of flexible funding models

Questions/Thank You
James Kariuki Njenga
Lecturer & eLearning Consultant
Department of Information Systems
University of the Western Cape,
Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa
Tel: +27 21 959 3243
Cell: +27 72 037 3284
email: jkariuki@uwc.ac.za, jkariuki@gmail.com
blog: http://elearningfundi.blogspot.com
http://www.elearningfundi.net

Sources of images/photos
Coffee makers: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lotzman
Coffee Dispenser: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanjoy
Maasai girls: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gbaku
Wooden Pillows: http://www.flickr.com/photos/emdot
Mobile Phone with Money: http://www.flickr.com/photos/whiteafrican/
Children & Bicycle: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanh
Green Rift Valley: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ditzygirl/
Kenya Money: http://www.flickr.com/photos/genvessel/576376009/
Kenyans Queue: http://www.flickr.com/photos/44222307@N00/2142803363/
Ugali and Cabbage: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitterjug/2248918702/
electricity poles: http://www.flickr.com/photos/reinis/259842877/
Coffee cup: http://www.flickr.com/photos/markhillary/3022024974/
Computer desk: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amagill/22651487/sizes/l/
One Laptop a Child: http://www.flickr.com/photos/olpc/2596796905/
Antennas: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alex-photos/411570259/
Out of Order: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shelbychicago/2105806003/
Old Administration: http://www.flickr.com/photos/takomabibelot/2354914078/
This side Up: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamescridland/410034254/
African Dance: http://www.flickr.com/photos/clav/2798044428/
Networks: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thefangmonster/352439602/
Night computer: http://www.flickr.com/photos/smittenkittenoriginals/2984703872/
Network development: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevenraymondparker/290276458/
The Runners: http://www.flickr.com/photos/waechor/263986663/
Demand and supply: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeblogs/271068829/

Here and Now or Coming in the Future? eLearning in Continuing Education in Africa

by James Kariuki on Aug 17, 2009

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Here and Now or Coming in the Future? eLearning in Continuing Education in Africa — Presentation Transcript