digital libraries 2011 digital libraries for north africa robert schware, phd managing director,...

Digital Libraries 2011Digital Libraries for North Africa

Robert Schware, PhDManaging Director, Global Learning PortalAcademy for Educational Development

Melissa Beuoy, MLISDigital Librarian, Global Learning PortalAcademy for Educational Development

Rwanda Education CommonsCollaboration Between Partners

The Rwanda Education Commons

REC is a USAID-funded project that supports the Education Sector Strategic Plan’s focus on

improving access to quality multimedia educational resources, and facilitating

communication among education stakeholders in an atmosphere of transparency, flexibility

and responsiveness to local context.

REC Portal

In 2009, REC began collaborating with volunteer Google engineers and usability researchers

and designers to build a Google-technologies platform for an online learning community.

Features of the portal (www.educationcommons.rw) include:

• A Digital Library• Discussion boards• User profiles/social networking• Local news and events

Infrastructure

Challenges• Cost of electricity• Outdated labs• Inadequate

maintenance of computers

• Low-bandwidth access to quality educational content

Infrastructure

Solutions

• Partner with various agencies to connect all 10 Teacher Training Colleges. Introduce “E-Rates”.

– Ministry of Education (co-ordination)– Artel (bandwidth)– RURA (utilities subsidization)– TSC (negotiate with TTCs)– TTCs– Unicef (hardware)– VSO (training)

• Develop and test a “light” websitethat works well in low-bandwidthenvironments.

Access

Challenges• Internet penetration is low (around 3-4%) and

unreliable.• Connections are slow, users experience

navigation delays.

Solutions• “Light” website made in partnership with

Google researchers– Including specially designed windows for

efficient access to materials• Multiple modes of offline distribution

Relevant Resources

Challenges• Lack of quality educational materials to access

at Teacher Training Colleges and Colleges of Education.

Solutions• Work with Rwandan teachers to produce

educational materials for online access and hard copy.

• Establish partnerships with local and international NGOs to acquire materials for use or adaptation.

Google, REC and GLP Staff ReunionNew York City, October 2010