The widespread school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the learning crisis for children living in Eastern and Southern Africa. The crisis has also shown the great need to develop resilient education systems that can provide learning when schools are forced to close. Understanding how to provide remote learning equitably…

The study derives from a multi-year project implemented by OER Africa. The project sought to understand how OER might be used as a catalyst for pedagogical transformation in African universities. Within a nondeterminist and interpretivist theoretical framework and an over-arching project methodology of participatory action research, the study made…

One of the most explosive areas of growth in the field of higher education is currently in emerging international markets. In developing nations, lack of access to high-quality teachers and educational materials is often the key obstacle preventing students from gaining the skills and knowledge they need to pursue new opportunities and advance in…

This paper documents the experience and lessons from implementing an e-learning program aimed at creating multidisciplinary research capacity. It presents a case study of bringing together a multidisciplinary group of professionals on-line to learn the skills needed to be a successful researcher in the context of HIV/AIDS and food security…

This paper documents the experience and lessons from implementing an e-learning program aimed at creating research capacity for gender, crisis prevention, and recovery. It presents a case study of bringing together a multidisciplinary group of women professionals through both online and face-to-face interactions to learn the skills needed to be a…

Developed from a series of workshops in Kenya, this handbook offers practical guidance for those creating printed distance education materials for African students. The introduction describes the workshops and a short section explains how to use the handbook. Twelve units appear on the following topics: (1) overview of distance education; (2)…

Many educational institutions are developing or expanding open and distance learning (ODL) programs, and all face difficulties ensuring that teaching materials of the right quality are developed on time. This report examines solutions to the problem, focusing on training, policies, and management structures that encourage timely development of…

Discusses cultural discontinuities that affect learning effectiveness revealed by the increase in globalization of distance education. Considers the theoretical basis of such discontinuities, describes a study of West African extension students and print-based instructional materials, and suggests implications for instruction and research as well…

This newsletter begins with an interview with Dr. Nora Quebral, Chairman of the Department of Communication at the University of the Philippines at Los Banos, who discussed the past, present, and future of development communication with staff members John Middleton and Heddy Reid. In "The Future of Computers in Education in the Developing…

An intercountry workshop on distance learning (DL) was conducted at the University of Khartoum, Sudan, in November 1991. Individuals involved in the World Health Organization's (WHO's) Health Learning Materials network in nine African countries (Sudan, Ethiopia, Guyana, Kenya, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) met to share their…

A series of two 2-week workshops was conducted in East Africa in 1987 by the German Foundation for International Development to assist educators in the development of instructional materials for distance and adult education. These workshops were designed to: (1) bring together writers of distance education materials to share their experiences and…

The following papers are included: "Assessment of Telecommunications Needs at the Texas Department of Health" (Adair, Griffin, Steinhausen); "Realizing the Democratic Ideal in Adult Distance Learning" (Boyd, Dirkx); "Classroom Social Interaction" (Burkhart-Kriesel); "Interaction Analysis of an Inter-University…

Much has been said and written about the importance of local and community organizations for the development of access to learning opportunities in impoverished countries. Calls for greater self-reliance and for educational services relevant to local conditions and community needs and that meet the needs of all constituents have increased since…