The Commonwealth of Learning is the only international intergovernmental agency that focuses exclusively on using technology to expand the scope and scale of human learning. It operates on the premise that knowledge is the key to individual freedom and to cultural, social and economic development.
ICT Focus Areas:
Access / Connectivity
Capacity Building
ICT Awareness
eLearning, ICT in Education
Related Member States:
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Jamaica
Saint Kitts & Nevis
Saint Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
Bermuda
Anguilla
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands
Background:
"The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is an intergovernmental organisation created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning/distance education knowledge, resources and technologies. COL is helping developing nations improve access to quality education and training. It achieves high impact through its focus on technology; placing special emphasis on open and distance learning (ODL) because of its proven effectiveness.
COL starts from the premise that the use of human reason, and the knowledge that flows from it, is the key to enabling all people to enjoy healthy and decent lives. As a world leader in the new field of knowledge management, COL has a special mission to help people access and use knowledge that can help them."
Keywords:
COL
learning
commonwealth
development
Partners:
Commonweath Connects
Commonwealth Secretariat
Commonwealth Foundation
Design of Project:
World leaders, meeting at the United Nations in 2000, set eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that aim to transform the condition of humankind in the 21st century. These Goals now guide the policies of Governments and the priorities of development agencies. Achieving the MDGs will require a massive expansion of human learning. Traditional methods of education and training cannot address the scope and scale of the task. Technology has already revolutionised other areas of human life and the world must now harness it to learning and teaching.
Project Importance:
The techniques of open and distance learning give farmers the know-how to improve their livelihoods and rural women the knowledge to raise a healthy family. Schoolnets create communities of practice among teachers and give children access to the best materials. e-learning and the knowledge media are gradually enriching the curriculum for all universities.
Risk Assessment:
"The achievement of the Millennium Development Goals does not depend on knowledge and learning alone. Political decisions, for example to make trading arrangements more equitable for developing countries, also have a vital role. However, ready access to usable knowledge can enable people in developing countries, from farmers to academics, to take rapid advantage of favourable changes.
Development depends on the creation, dissemination and application of knowledge by everyone. COL believes that technology can greatly facilitate these processes. "
References:
http://www.col.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/MDG_2006_web.pdf
The phrase information and communication technology, or ICT, has become a buzzword when talking about the technology, the applications and the benefits of information and telecommunications in all spheres of endeavour. It is therefore important that as we plan to integrate ICT in all development activities, all stakeholders have got a clear understanding of what is meant by ICT.
