the virtual forum of the puente in the caribbean program
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The Virtual Forum of the Puente in the Caribbean Program. January 19-20, 2011 Julie Nurse, Department of Social Development and Employment. Evolution of Virtual Learning in Puente in the Caribbean. An effort to facilitate ongoing learning and sharing of experiences . - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Virtual Forum of the Puente in the Caribbean Program
January 19-20, 2011
Julie Nurse, Department of Social Development and Employment
Evolution of Virtual Learning in Puente in the Caribbean
2007: OAS Web PageEarly stages of programLimited participationSecurity concerns
2009: World BankDifficulties with BandwidthScheduling live sessionsLanguage barriers
2010: Education Portal Permanent restricted spaceSimple interfaceAsynchronic interactionMultiple tools and facilities
An effort to facilitate ongoing learning and sharing of experiences
PUENTE Program Communication SettingSTRENGHTS• Program participants have already established face to face contact.• There is rapport between participants and their respective tutors.• Respect and trust has already been established.•There are shared goals within the community
WEAKNESSES• Cultural and linguistic communication barriers.• Participants involvement in the program is not a top priority in their daily activities.
CHALLENGES• Implement an adapted version of the PUENTE Program in the Caribbean.• Create a communication strategy that is action oriented towards program implementation.•Create a communication strategy that adds value rather than create overload.• Create sense of ownership among stakeholders.•Overcome the technical/infrastructural limitations
Virtual Support System to Implement PUENTE - Concepts
PUENTE Participant
Project Mentoring
Social Network
On-line Guidance
ReinforcingKnowledge
Expanding Knowledge
Virtual Support System to Implement PUENTE – Tools
PUENTE Participant
Work Plan Feedback
CAFÉ Social Gathering
On-line Guidance
Supporting Documents
New Issues/ Analysis
Setting Goals
Learning Goals
Project Implementation
Goals
Social Interaction Goals
Examples:• Participants will be able to
complete the exploratory phase of the project .
• Participants will gain a better understanding of more nuance issues (such as gender) in the implementation of PUENTE in the Caribbean.
• The country teams will begin to problem solve and strategize together more often.
The success of this virtual community can be determined by examining three types of goals:
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Administration of Virtual Support System
Phase Goals Activity Timeframe
Phase I: Induction
FamiliarizationTraining-Tutorials
February 5 –March 31, 2010
Expectations
Motivation
Purpose-Use-Input
Rewards-Recognition
Participant Bios
Training Workshops and Mobilization
Phase II: Usage
Project Implementation
Feedback on Country Work Plans
April 1 – December 30, 2010
Discussion
Summaries
Learning Sessions
Design Activity
Discussion
Updating supporting documents
Social InteractionDesign conversation starters
Monitor Café Forum
Phase III: Consolidation
Capacity building in social protection strategies
Selection and registration of participants Jan.1 - April. 30, 2011
Online course
Monitoring Capabilities
Results to DateThe Puente Virtual Forum
Forum Launched on February 24, 2010Introductory training 4 countries,
48-60 participants
Registered Participants 31Countries involved 8Online Discussions 6Average duration of Discussion in days 8-10Average number of posts/contributions 9-12Maximum number of posts/contributions 22
Puente Virtual Forum
http://www.educoas.org/RestrictedSites/admin.aspx?culture=en
Challenges • Variable access to Internet • Changing the perception of the internet : a tool
that can promote productivity!• Language differences• Balancing program’s schedule with online
discussions• Balancing regular work activities with online
schedules• Promoting and maintaining commitment and
participation
Lessons• The need for flexibility: topics, duration, membership• The forum serves as a community space which permits
continuous contact and interaction, however there is need to explore mechanisms to facilitate regular interaction and maintain the community spirit without creating overload.
• The importance of continuous or follow-up training on virtual tools
• Services on the Forum represent another item on the program’s menu; countries select what is needed from the menu.
Online Course: Areas of Interest by Country
St. Kitts &Nevis
• Self: the use of self; teaching social workers how to make effective use of self and avoid feeling completely drained as a result of their daily activities
• Avoiding a situation of dependency between clients and social workers
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
• Mediation: conflict resolution and negotiation. Also related to gender violence
• Processes involved in setting up institutional support for families.
• Changing the mindset of families and social workers: from dependency to empowerment
• Intervention in crisis: grief counseling
Barbados
• Cultural issues: obstacles in effecting the proposed changes; the institutional re-engineering required for implementation of a program of this nature
• Monitoring & evaluation: targeting and impact assessment• Addressing issues of duplication, fragmentation and
territorialism; sharing information among agencies, departments etc
Suriname
• Cultural aspects of program implementation: dealing with the different ethnic groups and their specific practices
• Addressing the various aspects and meanings of poverty : housing, education, unemployment. etc
• Developing skills for effective data analysis• Developing relevant indicators for identifying families
The Way Forward
• How can we maximize the use of the Forum and the tools that it offers?
• How can we promote increased participation?• What other activities and functions should be
incorporated?• How can the lessons of the Puente Virtual Forum be
used in promoting Virtual Learning in the IASPN?
Thank You!