New technologies in a restricted environment

New Technologies in a restricted environmentA case study in Mozambique.Gerald Henzinger, 27.05.2011

Catholic university of Mozambique(UCM),

Center for distance learning(CED)

Portuguese in 5 seconds

Obrigado

Agenda

The CED(Centro de ensino a distancia)

The CED Student Needs of the CED. New technology at the

CED.

The CED(1)

Started 2003. Private institution. Distance learning program for teacher education. eight courses in teacher training: portugese,

history, geography, biology, mathematics, arts and design, physics, chemistry.

Since 2011: course in public administration. 160 disciplines. Material is paper based. Four contact sessions a year.

The CED(2) Covering seven provinces in

Central and north of Mozambique. 12 focal points. Restricted infrastructure(electric

power, roads, connectivity). Exponential growth of student

numbers. Logistic is challenging. Permanent Change management.

The CED(3)

The CED Student(1)

Average age: 33 years. Has a day job. Female: 26%, male 74%. 40% have to travel more

than 5 h to get to the contact sessions.

Would not be able to study in a full time course.

The CED Student(2)

The CED Student(3)

Technology 99% have Cell phone. CD/DVD player is very common. 22% of the students consider themselves as

internet skilled. Computer literacy

8% use email regularly. 14% use Google. 30% know MS Word.

Needs of the CED

Manage very large student numbers. Good Delivery of accessible learning material. High Quality distance learning material. Enhance Student – Teacher interaction. Enhancing the learning experience. Produce less paper. Avoid digital divide.

(New) technologies?

Technology/media

Online LMS(Moodle, Chisimba…)

SMS

CD/DVD

Video

Audio

E-book(PDF)

Mobile Learning

i-pad

Smartphone

The CD/DVD 2010 Content: paper material as e-book. Security: password, watermark. Demand was high. 900 first and

second year Students purchased the disc, which is around 50% of the students.

Centralization of Material: Problems within the institution when organizing the material.

BUT: the CD remained mostly in the shelves because of the lack of access to computers. Backup for bad paper material.

The CD/DVD 2011/2012

Enhancing with Video and Audio: videos of power point, simulations.

Students see a high demand on the implementation of Video, audio because of the playback-ability on alternative devices to the computer.

Logistic of production is challenging.

SMS Service Prototype launched 2009.

Bulk SMS SMS to Email gateway with Web interface.

Students reception was high, but the SMS’ weren’t answered by the institution. Confidence went away.

Bulk SMS Service survived. The Students were asking administrative

AND study related questions via SMS. Internal issues with the Interactive SMS

Service. ICT failed to maintain. The step into Student – teacher interaction

was too high. New attempt 2012.

A conclusion

Possibilities on Micro- and Macro level. Know your student. Impacts to the Institution. CD/DVD

Prototype phase. OK Production phase is still in progress.

SMS Service came with interaction, couldn’t cope with that.

Motivated people can do magic!

Portuguese in 5 Seconds

?

Obrigado = Thank you

Gerald Henzinger

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.ucm.ac.mz