eLearning education in Sri Lanka is now in a rapidly developing environment where the Ministry of Higher education has foots stepped forward to do many activities. There are some foreign funded projects established for online education. The Ministry of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment, in collaboration with the Colombo Office of the International Labour Organization has likewise initiated an E-Learning program to train labour officers, labour commissioners, and staff members.
Distance Education Modernization Project (DEMP)
The Distance Education Modernisation Project (DEMP)funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) commenced in December 2003. It addresses the Government of Sri Lanka’s initiative to increase socio-economic growth and, thereby, enhance human development in the country. To reach this goal, DEMP, through the Ministry of Higher Education, aims significantly to increase access to postsecondary education in Sri Lanka through the development of online distance learning for the following groups:
- approximately 165,000 A-level graduates enrolled in traditional universities’ external degree programmes who cannot enter university due to lack of space
- over 40,000 learners enrolled in training programmes offered by up to 150 recognized private post-secondary educational institutions and government post secondary institutes such as universities and institutions of advanced technical education
- around 20,000 students attending the 26 OUSL campuses across the country the many individuals who need to acquire employment related professional development in the private sector, and students of other conventional universities that intend to offer external degrees
DEMP is undertaking this task through the following three interconnected programmes:
Distance Education Partnership Programme (DEPP) responsible for raising the quality of distance education, enhancing student capacity and improving public-private sector participation in post secondary education.
The National Distance Education Network (NDEN), that will operate as part of DEPP,will supply a national telecommunications network delivering the learning content.The network will include learning centres in about 150 locations.
Public Private Partnership Programme (PPP) responsible for increasing access to education.
Open University of Sri Lanka Capacity Enhancement Programme(OUSL-CE) aimed at modernising OUSL to a world-class distance education institution and expanding student capacity at the Open University of Sri Lanka.
National Online Distance Education Service (NODES)
Another initiative of the Ministry of Higher Education, also ADB-funded, is the National Online Distance Education Service of Sri Lanka. This is a government-owned company which will be converted at the end of Distance Education Modernization Project in 2010.
The educational content delivery system consists of a Network Operating Center, a national telecommunications network, and a targeted set of 150 NODES Access Centres Island-wide. NODES is a modern resource to education and training providers offering services in course design and deployment, marketing, and administration.
An important 'voice of distance education' in Sri Lanka, NODES ensures sustainability through a cost-recoverable operation, committed to excellence in online learning.
NODES is composed of the Course Development Unit (CDU), the Business Development Unit (BDU), and the Network Services Unit (NSU).
The CDU assists Partner Institutions (PI) to ready subject matter for online distance learning. A feature is the state-of-art Demonstration NODES Access Centre (DNAC) where ODL content may be tested in a controlled environment. The CDU offers advisory and content creation services includingdesigning and delivering online distance learning, planning the process, estimating costs and revenues, and arranging for assessment and evaluation. The Unit also conducts training in instructional design, media selection, use of the Moodle learning management system, and tutoring-mentoring. Furthermore, it produces print media such as guides and manuals; non-print media such as audio, video, photographs, graphics, animations; other multimedia materials such as interactive simulations and uniquely Internet media such as blogs
The (BDU), on the other hand, markets NODES and ODL. It also provides busine ss development support to the entire organization. A special feature of the BDU is that it helps NODES clients to create their own marketing plans as well as evaluate business opportunities and conduct market research.
The (NSU) provides the data networking and storage systems of NODES. It develops the wide area telecommunications network. The Unit secures data and operates the NODES Help Desk Users of NODES, no matter where located and no matter the time, can ask for and received aid via the Help Desk. It also monitors the performance of the entire system.
Distance Learning Centre Ltd (DLC)
Distance Learning Centre Ltd is a training (learning solutions) provider and a learning facility provider for both private and public sector clients. It is the Sri Lankan node point of the Global Development Learning Network of the World Bank Institution. Although established by a World Bank funded project, it now operates independently as a limited liability company (having the flexibility in operations) and a state owned institution (having the responsibility and credibility of a government organization).
State-of-the-art video conferencing facility and the multimedia labs of DLC creates virtual class rooms where the experts and participants could meet each other in a virtual environment and lively on line or offline modes. It brings the most updated knowledge using the best mix of modes to give the optimum output within the budgets and timelines of the clients. DLC also can link with other local networks around the country in conducting in-country video conferences.
Being the node point of the Global Development Learning Network, the DLC is in a position to bring experts on any subject either of client’s choice or any other world renowned figures of popular choice for providing live learning opportunities at a lesser cost. Learning opportunities on any subject could be arranged on request as different expertise is available within the network.
DLC also provide training to facilitate organizations to move in to the e-learning arena with training on content development, web development, learning management systems, etc. DLC also provide computer literacy for organizations looking for the same. It provides its facilities for clients who require training venues to conduct ICT/ Computer related training and for clients who want to conduct video-conferences for business meetings and job interviews.
Global Development Learning Network (GDLN)
The Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) is a partnership of over 120 learning centers (GDLN Affiliates) in nearly 80 countries around the world. GDLN Affiliates collaborate in holding events that connect people across countries and regions for learning and dialogue on development issues. Offering a combination of distance learning tools such as interactive videoconferencing and the internet, and expert facilitation and learning techniques, GDLN Affiliates enable individuals, teams, and organizations working in development around the world to communicate, share knowledge, and learn from each others’ experiences in a timely and cost-effective manner.
GDLN clients are typically NGOs, government, private sector and development agencies who find that they work better together on sub regional, regional or global development issues and challenges using the facilities and tools offered by GDLN Affiliates. Clients also benefit from the ability of Affiliates to help them choose and apply these tools effectively, and to tap development practitioners and experts worldwide. GDLN Affiliates facilitate around 1000 video conference-based activities a year on behalf of their clients, reaching some 90,000 people worldwide. Most of these activities bring together participants in two or more countries over a series of session. A majority of GDLN activities are organized by small government agencies and NGOs.
National e-learning Center (NeLC)
The National eLearning Center (NeLC) project is aimed to build up and maintain a sustainable e-Learning in Sri Lanka that will be a mechanism for the use of ICT for national development as to visualize the e-Sri Lanka program. The purpose of this project is to deliver more effective, efficient, scalable and economical learning opportunities based on an e-Learning model of the project to stakeholder communities in Universities, Schools, the Public Sector and Society at large is created by covering all provinces in Sri Lanka including the north and east. The NeLC would do so by the promotion of teaching, learning and research for exploring and formulating new and innovative content development, delivery and evaluation exploiting the benefits of ICT.
The e-Sri Lanka program of the government of Sri Lanka is the major driving force behind the strategy to provide the necessary inputs to rapidly develop the country through the multi pronged infusion of ICT based initiatives. It is pursuing a policy of providing access to learning resources to all parts of society as a major thrust in its human resources development effort, and has integrated the developments of these and other soft skills with its other major goals such as re-engineering government, development of the communications infrastructure and setting in place societal applications to help alleviate poverty.
This e-Learning infrastructure which will also support both local languages of Sinhala and Tamil, is expected to be a fundamental enabler of the human resource development efforts at all levels. It will facilitate to bring e-Learning based educational content to those who are in rural areas with limited income. Hence, the project will indirectly contribute to the alleviation of poverty and the building up of ethnic harmony in the country through the creation of a society with greater access to knowledge. The Project will eventually contribute towards the creation of an e-Learning culture in the country.
Contributed by Geeth and Manoj
No comments:
Post a Comment