Global Development Learning Network

Knowledge Sharing at the Edge

Michael FoleyWorld Bank Institute

GDLN

Global Development Learning NetworkThe network of GDLN centers

“The Global Development Learning Network, facilitates the cooperation between affiliated Distance Learning Centers in offering their facilities, services and interactive distance learning techniques to the development community to organize and implement knowledge sharing, training, consultation and dialogue events. GDLN reaches across the world and bridges geographical distances cost-effectively and with a high and lasting impact. “

What is GDLN?

“A Network of Centers”“An Initiative”

“offer services to development community”

“for knowledge sharing, training, consultation and dialogue”- a “way of doing business” for the Development Community

To improve development impact by using Distance Learning tools to connect development decision makers and agents of changeto a global knowledge exchange.

The Goal of GDLN

The Millenium Development Goals

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Halve the proportion of people who hunger and live on less than $1/day

2. Achieve universal education Primary education for all children, boys and girls, everywhere

3. Promote gender equality and empower women Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education

4. Reduce child mortality Reduce, by two thirds, the under-five-mortality rate

5. Improve maternal health Reduce, by three quarters, the maternal mortality ratio

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Halt, and begin to reverse, by 2015 the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and

other diseases7. Ensure environmental sustainability

Integrate “sustainability” in all country policies and programs, halve the share of people without access to safe drinking water, and improve lives of slum dwellers

8. Develop a Global Partnership for Development Open and non-discriminatory trade and financial systems, addressing special

needs of developing and small landlocked countries, address debt-sustainability, jobs for youth (15-24), access to critical pharmaceuticals, access to critical ICT infrastructure

By the year 2015,

Why? – the World Bank and GDLN

Emerging Market Net Capital Flows 1990-2001(US$ Billion)

-50

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001f

Sources: WB/IIF, January 2001

Public

Private

Finance

+Knowledge exchange

=Developme

nt

The Centers

GDLN

The Network and the World

Bank

11

Africa and Lat. America

Europe & Central Asia

Asia Regional Network

GDLN connects through; 3 Satellites, Fiber optic cable, ISDN,Nat. Research Nets.

AARNet

CERNet

The Global Development Learning NetworkThe Technology

Who is GDLN?GDLN Centers, Partners, the World Bank

Partners&Clients

What is a GDLN center?

A mix of ICT/media:•synchronous – videoconf.•asynchronous - Internet, Web and Print

• Group learning• High interactivity• Structured learning• Local facilitation• Learner support ……and that is connected to and that is connected to

a global network of such a global network of such centerscenters

An Institution that supports knowledge services for the development community,using a blend of technologies and DL methods

GDLN Distance Learning Centers

Videoconference room:Videoconference room:30 seats30 seatsVideo screen - 256K qualityVideo screen - 256K qualityData screen – for slides and file sharingData screen – for slides and file sharingPresentation deskPresentation desk

Multimedia Room:Multimedia Room:30 PCs30 PCs768K connection to Internet768K connection to Internet

Connectivity: by VSAT, fiber or ISDN Connectivity: by VSAT, fiber or ISDN through Washington DC, Paris, Beijing or Brasiliathrough Washington DC, Paris, Beijing or Brasilia

Where are the GDLN centers in a country?

GDLN centers can be in:•Stand alone centers•Civil Service training institutions•Universities•World Bank Offices•Joint WB/other donor premises.

Common thread:•Institution’s mission and target audience fit GDLN’s•Close to Government offices•Have a sustainable business model

Inititial financial support can be:•Self financing•WB loan•Donor grant

Set-up costs can range from;$100,000 - $1M, depending on existing facilities

BeninCôte d'IvoireEthiopiaGhana(+1*)MozambiqueMauritaniaSenegalTanzaniaUgandaTotal=9

China (3)South Korea(Malaysia*)MongoliaPhilippinesSingaporeThailandTimor LesteVietnamAustraliaTotal=11

BoliviaBrazilChileCosta Rica (2)ColombiaDominican RepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorGuatemalaMexico (2)NicaraguaPeru Venezuela Total=15

Canada (2)Washington, DCTotal=2

Belgium, FranceGermanyNetherlandsPortugal, SpainItaly, (UK*)Total=7

BosniaLatviaLithuania (2)Russia (2)PolandRumaniaUkraineTurkey (2)(+1*)(Yugoslavia*)Total=11

JordanEgyptSaudi ArabiaTotal=3

AfghanistanIndia (+1*)Sri LankaTotal=3

Total=62

* Centers that are part of the British Council’s Network of Knowledge Learning Centers and therefore connect to GDLN

Where is GDLN today?“Coverage” around the world

Burkina FasoKenyaMalawiMaliMadagascarNamibiaSudan(Tanzania*)ZambiaTotal=8

ArgentinaCaribbeanHondurasPanamaUruguay

Total=5

AlgeriaDjiboutiKuwaitMoroccoOman(Syria*)TunisiaUAEYemenW.Bank/Gaza (+1*)Total=9

ItalyGermanySwitzerlandFrance (Marseilles)Total=4

Canada (1)

Bulgaria(Romania*)Russia (+1*)MoldovaCentral Asia (5)Total=8

Papua New GuineaChinaCambodiaIndonesia (4+1*)JapanTotal=8

Additional DLCs=43

* DLCs that are part of the British Council’s Network of Knowledge Learning Centers and therefore connect to GDLN

Future Total=105

Additional GDLN Centers to join?Expectations for the next 2-3 years

The Distance learning Universe

Vision/objective: To create access to learning for those who do not have it.

Early adopters: Correspondence schools,Extension services,Open University (UK), (University of the air – Harold Wilson)Mega Universities (India, Thailand)

Ubiquity of DL: Corporations, dual mode Univ., etcKey issues: Quality (no signif. diff.), reputation.

Cost effectiveness, ROI, technology.Target audience, drop out rate.Design, learner support, media choice.

Size

of a

udie

nce

Type of audienceSchool University Adult

- Level of Interactivity + Media m

ix(Learning style)

Web, CD-ROM, Print, (Self-paced)

Interactive TV/Web+Print(Accred. Courses, Tutor moderated)

Interactive VC/Web+Print(Local Facilitator))

F2F

Mass Market

TV, Radio,Web/e-mail (local teacher moderated)

The Distance Learning Universe

Policy makers

&their

teamsHigh impact

Lessons learned in Distance Learning

The ideal distance learning delivery system will rarely be based on a single method or

platform, but rather, it will be

an integrated mix/blendintegrated mix/blend of methods, technologies and networks,

with their appropriate educational benefits and learner support services.

The “Blended” approach and media mix

Focus in capacity building approach

The “right”target group

The “right”pedagogics

High impactcapacitybuilding

Target Audience…..the “right” people

Decision-makers and teams in: Government Paragovernment agencies NGOs Academia Civil society Private Sector

……… in Development

Applying Adult Learning Theory to distance learning methods

Based on established learning needs and clear statements of outcome.

Activity based learning strategies Experiential – addresses life experience Participatory - involvement of learner Interactive – learner/instructor,

learner/learner Facilitated learner support

High impact approach to learning

Experiences with GDLN

Potential of GDLN pedagogy/technology:• Local delivery – to full teams, wider reach• Learning spread over time• Expertise from anywhere• Activity based learning – linked to programs• Applied to daily work of teams• Objectives can be outcome based• Supporting communities of practice

Evolution of thinking about role

GDLN’s contribution to and focus on development:

• Capacity enhancement for development teams• Linking learning to development projects• Ensuring successful implementation of projects• Offering more than DL “courses”

– all kinds of Knowledge Sharing through;

Capacity Enhancement in Developing Countries

Training, Policy and Advisory Services, Tech assistance, Communities of Practice

The right capacity – based on the capacity needs of target audience,to the right people – the policy makers and country teams that implement the programs,at the right time – "just-in-time",from the right source –

from Dev. Institutes or practitionerswith the right methodology – using the appropriate blend of tools

Integrating DL in project based capacity enhancement would mean…

… developing “project learning plans” as part of development projects…

GDLN and Internet2

Topics for discussion:

1. The Business case• Synergies in mission• For Internet2: connectivity to “almost the edge”• For poor countries: connectivity to knowledge sources• Joining/adding to communities;

2. Issues:• Costs• Quality• Who benefits

Internet2 community

GDLN communitydialogue

www.gdln.org