 
Ford Foundation |
African Learning Network (ALN)
The African Development Forum (ADF) convened by ECA in Addis Ababa in October 1999, saw the issue of education and Internet-based activities in schools and universities raised on various platforms. The ALN is based on the premise that transformation in education and learning requires a shift from traditional methods where new technologies can create the opportunity for the best minds to exchange information across vast distances, both at country level and across the Diaspora. Information can be shared and knowledge developed with large numbers of young learners by communicating across the geographical divide using radio, video, computers and the Internet.
There are three pillars to the ALN:
-
ICTs in schools, and the creation of a regional SchoolNet Africa structure that supports national and regional school networking activities;
-
VarsityNet, which establishes connectivity at universities and related institutions of higher learning and research, and stimulates the development of content production and information sharing within this environment.
-
OOSYNET, a youth networking initiative that addresses the needs of Out-Of-School Youth (OOSY) at both national and regional level
Each of the above-mentioned categories comprises four layers:
-
Curriculum Development and Access to Information for Learning
-
Measures to enrich learning of cultural, scientific and social subjects, to lay the foundations for self-guided learning and adapt appropriate media for different learning environments
-
New Learning Approaches and Outcomes
-
Measures to promote peer education, community learning ventures, public debate and decision-making skills
Knowledge Sharing and Building Intellectual Capital
Measures to promote the creation and presentation of content and knowledge by learners and teachers and to empower them as global communicators
Programme Sustainability and "Revenue" Creation
Measures to promote the production of knowledge for sale in the knowledge marketplace (e.g. to Centres of African Studies), to protect African intellectual property and to reinforce human capacity in science, engineering and technology
SchoolNet Africa is a network of schoolnet organizations and practioners operating in upto 30 African countries. Its vision is to empower the African child to be an active global participant through the effective use of information and communication tecnologies (ICTs) in education. It aims to support national schoolnets throughout Africa by mobilising resources, building effective partnerships and knowledge in promoting education through sustainable use of ICTs in African schools. More: http://www.schoolnetafrica.net/
VARSITYNET
Under the auspices of the African Information Society Initiative (AISI) and the African Learning Network, ECA will pilot a unique initiative between universities, private and public sectors on R & D in developing applications for e-government and African languages through Open Source Software (OSS). This is being piloted in Ethiopia and Uganda.
|
