Global Development Learning Network Knowledge Sharing at the Edge Michael Foley World Bank Institute GDLN

“The Global Development Learning Network, facilitates the cooperation between affiliated Distance Learning Centers in offering their facilities, services and interactive distance learning techniques to the development community to organize and implement knowledge sharing, training, consultation and dialogue events. GDLN reaches across the world and bridges geographical distances cost-effectively and with a high and lasting impact. “ What is GDLN? “A Network of Centers” “An Initiative” “offer services to development community” “for knowledge sharing, training, consultation and dialogue” - a “ way of doing business ” for the Development Community

To improve development impact by using Distance Learning tools to connect development decision makers and agents of change to a global knowledge exchange. The Goal of GDLN

The Millenium Development Goals 1.Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger  Halve the proportion of people who hunger and live on less than $1/day 2.Achieve universal education  Primary education for all children, boys and girls, everywhere 3.Promote gender equality and empower women  Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education 4.Reduce child mortality  Reduce, by two thirds, the under-five-mortality rate 5.Improve maternal health  Reduce, by three quarters, the maternal mortality ratio 6.Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases  Halt, and begin to reverse, by 2015 the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases 7.Ensure environmental sustainability  Integrate “ sustainability ” in all country policies and programs, halve the share of people without access to safe drinking water, and improve lives of slum dwellers 8.Develop a Global Partnership for Development  Open and non-discriminatory trade and financial systems, addressing special needs of developing and small landlocked countries, address debt-sustainability, jobs for youth (15-24), access to critical pharmaceuticals, access to critical ICT infrastructure By the year 2015,

Why? – the World Bank and GDLN Finance + Knowledge exchange = Development

The Centers GDLN The Network and the World Bank The Technology Who is GDLN? GDLN Centers, Partners, the World Bank Partners&Clients

What is a GDLN center? A mix of ICT/media: synchronous – videoconf. asynchronous - Internet, Web and Print Group learning High interactivity Structured learning Local facilitation Learner support … and that is connected to a global network of such centers An Institution that supports knowledge services for the development community, using a blend of technologies and DL methods

GDLN Distance Learning Centers Videoconference room: 30 seats Video screen - 256K quality Data screen – for slides and file sharing Presentation desk Multimedia Room: 30 PCs 768K connection to Internet Connectivity: by VSAT, fiber or ISDN through Washington DC, Paris, Beijing or Brasilia Videoconference room: 30 seats Video screen - 256K quality Data screen – for slides and file sharing Presentation desk Multimedia Room: 30 PCs 768K connection to Internet Connectivity: by VSAT, fiber or ISDN through Washington DC, Paris, Beijing or Brasilia

Where are the GDLN centers in a country? GDLN centers can be in: Stand alone centers Civil Service training institutions Universities World Bank Offices Joint WB/other donor premises. Common thread: Institution’s mission and target audience fit GDLN’s Close to Government offices Have a sustainable business model Inititial financial support can be: Self financing WB loan Donor grant Set-up costs can range from; $100,000 - $1M, depending on existing facilities

Benin Côte d'Ivoire Ethiopia Ghana(+1*) Mozambique Mauritania Senegal Tanzania Uganda Total=9 China (3) South Korea (Malaysia*) Mongolia Philippines Singapore Thailand Timor Leste Vietnam Australia Total=11 Bolivia Brazil Chile Costa Rica (2) Colombia Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Mexico (2) Nicaragua Peru Venezuela Total=15 Canada (2) Washington, DC Total=2 Belgium, France Germany Netherlands Portugal, Spain Italy, (UK*) Total=7 Bosnia Latvia Lithuania (2) Russia (2) Poland Rumania Ukraine Turkey (2)(+1*) (Yugoslavia*) Total=11 Jordan Egypt Saudi Arabia Total=3 Afghanistan India (+1*) Sri Lanka Total=3 Total=62 * Centers that are part of the British Council ’ s Network of Knowledge Learning Centers and therefore connect to GDLN Where is GDLN today? “ Coverage ” around the world

Burkina Faso Kenya Malawi Mali Madagascar Namibia Sudan (Tanzania*) Zambia Total=8 Argentina Caribbean Honduras Panama Uruguay Total=5 Algeria Djibouti Kuwait Morocco Oman (Syria*) Tunisia UAE Yemen W.Bank/Gaza (+1*) Total=9 Italy Germany Switzerland France (Marseilles) Total=4 Canada (1) Bulgaria (Romania*) Russia (+1*) Moldova Central Asia (5) Total=8 Papua New Guinea China Cambodia Indonesia (4+1*) Japan Total=8 Additional DLCs=43 * DLCs that are part of the British Council ’ s Network of Knowledge Learning Centers and therefore connect to GDLN Future Total=105 Additional GDLN Centers to join? Expectations for the next 2-3 years

The Distance learning Universe Vision/objective: To create access to learning for those who do not have it. Early adopters: Correspondence schools, Extension services, Open University (UK), (University of the air – Harold Wilson) Mega Universities (India, Thailand) Ubiquity of DL:Corporations, dual mode Univ., etc Key issues:Quality (no signif. diff.), reputation. Cost effectiveness, ROI, technology. Target audience, drop out rate. Design, learner support, media choice.

Size of audience Type of audience School University Adult - Level of Interactivity + Media mix(Learning style) Web, CD-ROM, Print, (Self-paced) Interactive TV/Web+Print (Accred. Courses, Tutor moderated) Interactive VC/Web+Print (Local Facilitator)) F2F Mass Market TV, Radio,Web/ (local teacher moderated) The Distance Learning Universe Policy makers & their teams High impact

Lessons learned in Distance Learning The ideal distance learning delivery system will rarely be based on a single method or platform, but rather, it will be integrated mix/blend an integrated mix/blend of methods, technologies and networks, with their appropriate educational benefits and learner support services. The “ Blended ” approach and media mix

Focus in capacity building approach The “right” target group The “right” pedagogics High impact capacity building

Target Audience …..the “ right ” people Decision-makers and teams in: Government Paragovernment agencies NGOs Academia Civil society Private Sector ……… in Development

Applying Adult Learning Theory to distance learning methods Based on established learning needs and clear statements of outcome. Activity based learning strategies Experiential – addresses life experience Participatory - involvement of learner Interactive – learner/instructor, learner/learner Facilitated learner support High impact approach to learning

Experiences with GDLN Potential of GDLN pedagogy/technology: Local delivery – to full teams, wider reach Learning spread over time Expertise from anywhere Activity based learning – linked to programs Applied to daily work of teams Objectives can be outcome based Supporting communities of practice

Evolution of thinking about role GDLN ’ s contribution to and focus on development: Capacity enhancement for development teams Linking learning to development projects Ensuring successful implementation of projects Offering more than DL “ courses ” – all kinds of Knowledge Sharing through; Capacity Enhancement in Developing Countries Training, Policy and Advisory Services, Tech assistance, Communities of Practice

The right capacity – based on the capacity needs of target audience, to the right people – the policy makers and country teams that implement the programs, at the right time – "just-in-time", from the right source – from Dev. Institutes or practitioners with the right methodology – using the appropriate blend of tools Integrating DL in project based capacity enhancement would mean … … developing “ project learning plans ” as part of development projects …

GDLN and Internet2 Topics for discussion: 1. The Business case Synergies in mission For Internet2: connectivity to “ almost the edge ” For poor countries: connectivity to knowledge sources Joining/adding to communities; 2. Issues: Costs Quality Who benefits Internet2 community GDLN community dialogue