Education Group Summary

What types of technology were employed?

Virtual libraries
Virtual reality (to envision fields to increase "bang for buck")
Webcam
Move to cost-effective travel options (e.g. pr campaigns)

What fields were represented?

Higher education--workforce develop access
--international student numbers

International NGO--girls education

Teacher at secondary school (technical) in SSA

What barriers to implementation were encountered?

--increased competition
--reliabiilty of education services
--accessibility
--credibility of providers
--connecting action to technology
--getting information out there through technology
--insufficient resources, malfunctioning system
--maintenance to infrastructure

--power (etc, etc)
financial resources (capacity building)
--understanding (acceptance of technology)
(social traditions, e.g. girls)
--shortage of technicians, teachers

How were the barriers to implementation overcome?

--updating regulations and policies
--increased capacity of institutions to adapt
--privacy concerns, such as sharing data
--concern about viability of outcomes

Needs assessments, etc, workforce-ready skills, customized curriculum --> technolgoy a solution?

--access through satellites (global communication at lower costs)
--energy sources attained

Minister of Education in SSA (Horn of Africa)
Consultant in Thai Ministry of Education to strengthen business, healthcare education (linkages)

tools to address the cost of access

access to information aided the reduction of some barriers, fostered creativity, etc.

nationwide investments in teacher education (student centered approach)

--introduced solar power
--provided mobile phones, internet
--radio/tv education programing (domestic programming and international)
training of technicians & teachers about technology

Thanks to Holly Emert for faciliating the group and for transcribing the group notes.