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Countries like the United States are leading the way in providing global access to advanced educational material. NASA's Digital Learning Network, in conjunction with the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), Discovery Education and Polycom are allowing middle school students around the globe to remotely visit and survey NASA space and research centers. Participating schools include those in developing nations like Mexico and India (Polycom 2008).
One of the ways distance education can be harnessed to help poor nations prosper is through enterprise-level training and access. Multinational corporations with headquarters in developing nations can hire educational institutions to develop specialized training software, hardware, and distance learning applications. Participants can use the learning opportunities to help labor forces in developing nations move beyond the yoke of unskilled labor and toward more skilled positions ranging from language translation and communications to information technology and engineering. Distance learning can help companies prosper too, by helping to train local populations that are already adept at navigating the unique cultural parameters of the regional business environment. 282). Funding educational endeavors should become a top priority for global trade groups hoping to stimulate economic development. Distance education consortiums help promote learning by offering multiple institutions access to a central and robust database of academic resources and technological tools used for course development.
International agencies can support the development of distance learning in poor countries. The
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Distance education has not yet reached its full potential for helping poor countries catch up to their wealthier counterparts. Geography may be an irrelevant factor for acquiring distance learning, but the infrastructure needed to provide poor people in remote regions of the world does often depend on proximity to wealthy and technologically advanced countries. For example, Moore & Kearsley (2005) point out that Korea and Ghana once had the same per capita income but Korea speedily advanced ahead of Ghana due to educational advancements and acquisition of knowledge. Undoubtedly Korea's geographic position, its investment in technology development, and its trade relationships with advanced nations like Japan and the United States helped propel distance education there more than in Ghana. As distance education infrastructure becomes more pervasive worldwide, the playing field will become more level for learners around the globe.
References
Moore, M. & Kearsley, G. (2005). "The Global Span of Distance Education." Chapter 11, in Distance Education: A Systems View. Thomson/Wadsworth.
Polycom (2008). Students Study Climate Change in Antarctica and Visit NASA Space Centers During National Distance Learning Week. Press Release. Market Watch. Retrieved Nov 18, 2008 at http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Students-Study-Climate-Change-Antarctica/story.aspx?guid={BCDE117F-3581-45DC-A60A-63E46B7A073B}
independent study. It is still a broadcast-related approach to teaching and doesn't give the student an opportunity to fully participate in the learning process. Telecourses are ideal for reaching thousands or millions of students who are motivated to learn. The drawback is the lack of interaction with instructors. The development of interactive television based on satellite and cable networks, and the development of interactive video have contributed to the development
Distance Education Man has always thirsted for education and improvement of self. The ability to cognate and reason distinguishes man as superior to other species. From the Greeks to the Romans in Europe, to the Chinese and the Indians in the Asian subcontinent, to the American Indian tribes of North America and the Mayans from South America, ecivilization has displayed formal or informal educational structures. These edifices were the building blocks
It is important to recognize the many different areas within adult education, and what type of students these areas attract. Ultimately, for the adult education department to be successful, it must attract a wide variety of students, and keep at least some of those students coming back to continue their education in order to be successful. Adult education serves a vital role in the upper education system, and it
An admission interviewer could help explore the above issues with any student considering the program and help the student determine for herself or himself whether the program might match his or her needs. Students who are most likely to be actively engaged in the process are also likely to achieve success in distance-learning program. Clariana & Mohler (2000) performed a survey of distance-learners enrolled in a program sponsored by Pennsylvania
Of course, technology is integral to the delivery of services for all three of these institutions. The Indira Gandhi school appears to be the least equipped with next-generation services and applications. However, the Indira Gandhi National Open University uses technology tools like video and audio materials to reach students without access to cutting edge technology. The African Virtual University relies on help from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for
While one must applaud a sentiment such as, "... success in such matters comes from having determined their own identity, recognized their own distinct strengths, and sharing those strengths with the world," one must also question the hint of ambiguity that this presents when related to a desire to break down cultural barriers and promote discourse. This concern comes from my own experience of the way in which most modern