CARIBBEAN KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING NETWORK CKLN

1
CARIBBEAN KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING NETWORK (CKLN)

• Caribbean Internet Forum
• Nov 6, 2007

2
The Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network

• seeks to enhance the competitiveness of
  Caribbean countries by upgrading and diversifying
  the skills and knowledge of human resources in
  the Region through greater regional collaboration
  and connectivity.

3
There are three specific objectives

• Improve the relevance of tertiary education and
  training by increasing the number of accredited
  tertiary education programs recognized
  internationally for their excellence.
• Establish a Caribbean Knowledge and Learning
  Network to strengthen tertiary institutions,
  foster specialization and knowledge sharing.
• Ensure the convergence of fragmented regional and
  international initiatives to maximize results in
  the area of tertiary and distance education.

4
The CKLN Development Plan

• A Three Phased Approach

Strengthening the TEI
Establishing the Knowledge Learning Network
Building Capacity at Regional Level
5
Strengthening the TEI

• With Grant Funding Commitment of 1.00 Million US
  from the OAS in annual disbursements of 75,000
  to 250,000 per year for June 2004- March 2008
• Implemented the following in 9 CARICOM Member
  States
• Institutional Assessments Strategic Planning in
  10 institutions
• Training of faculty in online course design
• Development of 5 courses for piloting through
  regional collaboration
• Identified Quality Assurance and accreditation
  issues in delivering programmes through a
  collaborative model.

6
2007-2008 Work plans

• Expand the range of TEI involved in collaboration
  and Begin Institutional Strengthening at TEI in
  the following Countries
• Bahamas
• Jamaica
• Haiti
• Suriname
• Trinidad Tobago
• Montserrat, BVI and Anguilla

7
Piloting E-Learning Courses

• 5 courses will be piloted each with a lead
  institution plus two or three collaborating
  institutions
• Courses were selected on the basis of an
  identified immediate priority and commitment of
  the lead institutions and shared interest of the
  others

8
PILOT COURSES/PROGRAMMES

• UG ENGLISH FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
• UB ICT LITERACY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
• SALCC RECORDS MANAGEMENT (1 course from the
  Library Technician Diploma
• SJPP Small Business Child Care

9
The Pilot is testing a Processwhich
involves1. Regional collaboration in the
development, delivery and quality assurance of
courses and programmes2. International
collaboration in the adaptation of existing
accredited courses3. International and regional
collaboration in accessing learning resources

10
Training Programmes Planned

• Tutor Training Teaching effectively online and
  f2f
• Student Orientation to online Learning
• Student Services in an online environment

11
Institutional CapacityStudents
AdministrationPortal developmentICT Technical
Services to faculty and studentsBlended Learning
institutional policy developmentNational Policy
Framework

12
ICT Assessment

• An ICT Assessment was carried out of the various
  public TEIs in CARICOM and the following were
  identified as essential for the success of
  eLearning Distance Learning initiatives
• Learning Management System (LMS) Platform
• Student Records Management System (SRMS)
• Educational Portal
• Access to affordable Connectivity

13
Learning Management System (LMS) Platform

• Moodle, a very popular Open-Source platform,
  selected as the LMS.
• Servers are currently being procured to assist
  the TEIs involved in the deployment of the pilot
  courses in the development of those courses.
• A hosted solution is proposed that will foster
  collaboration between the TEIs.

14
Student Records Management System (SRMS)

• Requirements were identified and further refined.
• CDB has provided funding for implementation in
  the OECS TEIs.
• Procurement is currently underway. Selection by
  January 2008.
• Leaning heavily towards a hosted solution

15
Educational Portal

• A Regional, 1-Stop shop for all aspects of
  Tertiary Education in the Region.
• Requirements identified, further refined.
• Procurement currently underway, expected
  selection by January 2008.

16
Other E-Learning initiatives planned by CKLN in
2007-2008

• Regional Collaboration in DE Consultation
  CARICOM/CUPIDE/CKLN initiative
• Regional collaboration in development delivery
  of medical lab technology education training
  CAREC
• Discussion with ACTI to be initiated in their
  November 2007 meeting

17
CONSTRAINTS

• A Reliable and High Capacity broadband network
• The initial Plan for a wireless network
• The new plan for the development of a Knowledge,
  Education and Research Network in the initial
  stages of development
• 2. Potential rural student access to be reviewed
  in the strategic and national planning process

18
Knowledge, Education and Research Networks

• The Access Goal
• Anyplace, Anytime, Anywhere, Always
• And
• Just in Time

19
The Challenge

• The CKLN has been assigned the responsibility
  and build a Regional Education, Knowledge and
  Research Network connecting all Member States to
  provide ubiquitous access to Caribbean nationals
  wherever they may live. To do this an initial 5M
  euros has been committed by the EU and 600,000
  -IADB

20
C_at_ribNET

• Goals
• Provide High Capacity Social Bandwidth to CARICOM
  countries in support of E-Education, E-Learning,
  Research, E-Government, E-Health, E-Inclusion,
  Disaster Management, Regional Security
• Facilitate connection of Tertiary Education
  Institutions in the Region to Universities in
  Europe, the United States and elsewhere for
  Research, Collaboration and Knowledge sharing.
• Strategic Regional ICT infrastructure to support
  and facilitate Functional Cooperation amongst
  CARICOM Member States and its Regional
  instituions
• Bridge the Digital Divide in the Region to
  achieve Social Cohesion of Caribbean people

21
Proposed Caribbean Educational Knowledge and
Research Network (C_at_ribNET)
22
(No Transcript)
23
Use of C_at_ribNET(Beyond TEI)

• E-Learning and Research
• E-Health
• E-Inclusion
• Supports Regional Security
• Supports CSME and facilitates strengthening of
  Caribbean Integration
• Significantly reduced costs of Regional travel by
  public servants

24
Working Together to Increase Access Quality in
Tertiary Education

• THANK YOU !