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National Initiatives to Use New Information and Communication Technologies in Learning and Training - Zambia
Sources:World Bank and The Commonwealth of Learning
Zambia Technology-Based Community Learning Centers
The project has been launched by the University of Zambia and the
Ministry of Community Development in partnership with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and the British Department for International Development (DFID).Four centers have been established using existing facilities: two in Kabwe in the central region; one in Katete in the rural eastern region; and one at Monze in the southern province. These main centers will each, in turn, support five satellite centers that deliver community-based programs with materials developed at the main centers. A manger, an operations officer and a cadre of tutors / literacy instructors staff each major center. Staffing at satellite centers comprises a supervisor, tutors/literacy instructors and a community literacy committee.
The broad goal is to assess ways in which adult literacy programs can be enhanced through the application of technology. The defining feature of the model is the establishment of technology-based community learning centers through which learners can access both traditional and technology-enabled learning programs and resources. The centers also serve as resource centers for the development of locally produced literacy materials that are used in outreach programs in each of the regions.
The specific goals of the project are:
to enhance knowledge of what constitutes appropriate and sustainable use of information and communications technologies in literacy training;
to train a cadre of tutors who are knowledgeable in using ICTs in literacy education, and are aware of global media -based resources;
to significantly improve the knowledge and skills of the participating learners in reading, numercy, and the use of ICT appliances;
to collect data regarding the role of ICT-based community learning centers in education delivery;
to produce a set of materials for training literacy workers; and
to produce learner literacy materials in a variety of media.
The primary target groups for the project are adults and out-of-school youth who require improved functional literacy skills in order to improve their access to the labor market or who wish to access more advanced vocational training programs. Community surveys have been used to establish programming priorities in the areas of farming, health, basic education relating to income generation, business English for the SME sector, and ICT literacy and usage. The content strategy is to import, adapt, and translate learning resources into local languages and to train the staff to develop new resources in a variety of instructional media.
The establishment of the Centers was delayed due to substantial upgrades required for the physical facilities. Programming has now commenced and it is anticipated that 60 classes will be offered during the pilot phase to approximately 1200 participants.
Learning Technology Description
The ICT infrastructure of the centers is relatively basic, but also relatively affordable, and comprises:
4-5 computers and printers
photo-copiers
television sets
video cameras
digital scanners video and audio recorders
dial-up Internet access
The centers’ infrastructure is used both for literacy training and by the staff to produce locally developed curriculum materials in local languages.
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