Globalization, Culture, and Online Distance Learning

Globalization, the Internet, and access to telecommunication networks have increased the demand for education and educational quality across the globe. The reasons for this demand explains Carnoy (2005) are two-fold: The first is economic, the rising payoffs to higher education in a global, science-based, knowledge intensive economy make university training more of a “necessity” to get “good” jobs, which in turn, changes the stakes at lower levels of schooling and the demand for high-quality secondary schools. The second reason is socio-political: Demographics and democratic ideals increase pressure on universities to provide access to groups that traditionally have not attended university. In this context, online distance learning (ODL), which can transcend local, state, and national borders, has the potential to reach out internationally to enhance learning for diverse learners in varied geographical and socio-cultural contexts and increase inter-cultural awareness and communication. In addition, demand is propelled by rising awareness of the potential for online education to provide services to nearly any location on the planet

Internet Access and Use in Political Discourse by the Members of Parliament in Tanzania

This paper is based on the research which examined access and use of internet resources and services by the Tanzanian Members of Parliament (MPs) and its impact on the political discourse. The study was conducted in June 2009 among selected parliamentarians. It employed qualitative and quantitative research design. The sample size was 18 parliamentarians and these were selected purposively. The methods of data collection included a questionnaire, interviews and focus group discussion. Analysis of data was mainly descriptive. The key findings of this study are: First, the Parliament Library in Tanzania has made modest investment in ICT infrastructure to support internet access and use. Second, the Library has a good mix of professional and para- professional staff though the level of staffing is not optimum. Third, the Library has a number of important documents and publications available online including the Hansards and reports by various parliamentary committees. Fourth, the MPs have diverse needs although a few of these are central to all the MPs and these include information for debates, information on bills, policies, speeches and constituencies. The demand and need to access the internet resources and services by parliamentarians is on the rise and the parliament, including the parliament library, has to address a number of challenges in connection to this development. The reported challenges include: slow internet connectivity that discourages use; inadequate number of available PCs in the library (only 12 were available); lack of training programme to use the internet and e-resources in general; lack of effective marketing strategies to create awareness of the value of internet resources; low skills and capacities to use the internet resources among the MPs and the library staff; severe time constraint for the MPs to use the library regularly and finally, inadequate library physical space. Detailed suggestions made by the MPs on how these challenges could be addressed are also documented. Generally, the study observes a positive relationship between the use of the internet and increased/improved political discourse and the democratization process. However, one negative impact of the adoption of this new technology by the MPs is an increased knowledge and information gap between those with higher levels of education and the ones with lower levels of education. MPs with higher levels of education are the core group of internet users, while those with lower levels of education are the laggards. The knowledge and information gap is explained by the fact that the MPs with higher levels of education are likely to be better and more informed of significant issues of interest before the adoption of the internet. Thus, the use of the internet will increase and exacerbate this gap even further, unless strategies for intervention (such as training) are implemented. The paper makes a number of recommendations to address these emerging challenges and measures to mitigate negative impacts

Research on Architectural Design Course Teaching Reform under the New Engineering Talent Training Concept - Taking Architectural Design V as an Example

In recent years, the development of technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things has drastically changed the architectural market, raising the demands on architects by enterprises and institutions. The traditional teaching model of architecture majors struggles to meet the market's demand for professionally applied talents, necessitating reform. With the introduction of the new engineering talent training model by the Ministry of Education, the goal of educating students has shifted from a focus on theory and professional techniques to nurturing engineering talents with innovative spirit and practical skills. The cultivation of these qualities requires profound contemplation by architectural educators on how to train architectural talents who can meet societal needs, and put these ideas into action. Based on the concept of new engineering construction, this article first analyzes the problems students face in actual teaching and practical work. It then proposes suggestions for teaching reform specific to Architectural Design V, applying these reform measures to the education of senior students. This approach is beneficial in enhancing students' professional design abilities and innovative thinking, thereby improving the quality of applied talent training and teaching standards. This holds significant guidance value for the practical teaching reform of architectural courses

Information Technology and Russia's Social Modernization

Information technologies play a very important role in modernizing Russia's economy and society as whole. Its competitive advantage lies in the availability of highly educated labour resources. Russia accounts for approximately 9% of researchers in the world as opposed to a share of about 0.3% in the world innovation market. Our approach is based on identifying ways to set up IT innovation centres and create an organizational and economic mechanisms making possible the transfer of new technologies to production processes and the creation of tools for innovative management. In the markets of high technology Russia will concentratie on software tools for IT security, applied modelling information systems, various types of software, and cryptographic systems, some types of specialized computing systems. In the Education Project two main mechanisms of systemic change are envisaged: to identify and support leading higher educational institutions; to introduce on a grand scale new knowledge-management methods and put mechanisms into practice. Among the main intentions of the Education Project the following should be mentioned: the modernization of its material-technical base, the internetization of education, the expansion of innovation centres on the pattern of universities and scientific and research institutes, the creation of Russian "Siliceous Valley"- Skolkovo complementary clusters of small, innovative companies. In the framework of the Health Care 2020 Programme. Activities are underway to introduce a Federal Register of the most widespread diseases, to operate waiting lists of those who need high technology medical help, and to centralize access to the common database of normative and reference information. Drafts of their electronic presentation formats are developed on the basis of international ISO standards. An Internet market for various types of medical and information services is being set up; telemedicine technologies are being taken into account. The social orientation of IT development will improve educational and health care systems, accelerate progress in extending the number of qualified professionals in IT (according to experts, the demand for these in 2012 will increase by up to 550,000 persons, and even then the country's demand will only be satisfied to the degree of 15%). A model enabling Russia to enter the group of countries with a high development of intellectual potential demands more intensive introduction of IT in modernization of Russian society. --codes Information technology,human factor,modern economy,social factors,telecommunication,education,personal training,medicine,national healthcare,telemedicine,social networks,internatization

Ready for Tomorrow: Demand-Side Emerging Skills for the 21st Century

As part of the Ready for the Job demand-side skill assessment, the Heldrich Center explored emerging work skills that will affect New Jersey's workforce in the next three to five years. The Heldrich Center identified five specific areas likely to generate new skill demands: biotechnology, security, e-learning, e-commerce, and food/agribusiness. This report explores the study's findings and offers recommendations for improving education and training in New Jersey

Harnessing Technology: analysis of emerging trends affecting the use of technology in education (September 2008)

Research to support the delivery and development of Harnessing Technology: Next Generation Learning 2008–1

E-consulting of Small and Medium Agribusiness Enterprises: The case of eEurope Godigital application into the Peloponnese Region

This study describes the design and development of a web-based electronic training system aiming at business operations of small and medium-sized agribusiness enterprises (SMAEs). The proposed system will meet current and future needs of SMAEs for timely, accurate, and customised training removing the barriers of geographical solitude and economies of scale. The objectives of this system are: (a) to offer training and consultancy to SMAEs on how to use information and communication technologies as business tools in order to improve their operations and gain competitive advantage (b) to provide education material customised to the special needs of each SMAE, (c) to provide on-line training, advice and consultancy using special-trained operators, and (d) to provide on-line training, advice and consultancy by skilled operators who have been trained to offer those services. ETS will be an Internet-based system. The system will operate as a third-party trusted intermediate between SMAEs, consultants, and content providers. The system design will be extended to cover the needs of the programme "Training support for Go-Digital Project" funded by Greek Ministry of Development which aims to offer training and support in the usage of Internet services to 50.000 SMEs

Implementation of Internet based courses in computer information systems at Milwaukee Area Technical College

Includes bibliographical references

Research into the use of ICT and e-learning for work-based learning in the skills sector

This research has been commissioned by Becta to provide an evidence-based overview of the current use and effectiveness of work-based e-learning and its integration with more traditional learning methods. The specific objectives of the research were to: investigate the known impact of ICT and e-learning on the skills sector; and describe the ways in which ICT and e-learning can support key workforce development issues such as addressing skills gaps and achieving sustainability in training and development

Broadband: a solution to rural e-learning?

Rural and remote learners are disadvantaged even with online provision due to poor connections. Broadband offers a potential solution. This paper looks at the initial results of a project to install broadband services in the Western Isles of Scotland. It focuses on the educational potential of broadband and the design implications for online courses. It also considers more informal kinds of learning that broadband facilitates in rural areas