The Development of Virtual Education: A global perspective
A study of current trends in the virtual delivery of education, conducted with funding provided by the Department for International Development, London, UK
Dr. Glen Farrell, Study Team Leader and Editor
© The Commonwealth of Learning, 1999
ISBN: 1-895369-74-6
The Internet Scout Project has selected this site - The Development of Virtual Education: A global perspective - for inclusion in the 13 August 1999 edition of the Scout Report.
The term "virtual education" is something that is heard with increasing frequency now as the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) becomes ever more present in the conduct of open and distance education. To examine the degree to which the "virtual institution" has really arrived, The Commonwealth of Learning, with funding from the British Department for International Development, commissioned an international group of experts to look at this phenomenon and provide a snapshot report.
While it is clear that the application of ICTs to the practice of open and distance learning is growing rapidly, the study team determined that the concept of truly virtual education is still more rhetorical than real.
The report provides a detailed look at the differences in this development around the world through a series of regionally-based papers and concludes with a number of suggestions for policy makers and education leaders regarding the development of models for virtual learning.
Background details and outcomes ...
The entire study is available on-line from this page:
Contents
Preliminary pages: Title page, copyright page, Table of Contents (pages i - viii, 188 Kb.)
Foreword - Prof. Gajaraj Dhanarajan
and Acknowledgements (page ix - xiii, 167 Kb.)
1. Introduction - Dr. Glen M. Farrell (pages 1 - 12, 207 Kb.)
Process and Methodology
General Observations
The Global Context of Virtual Institution Development
Emerging Models of Virtual Education
Change Strategies
Summary
Appendix 1.1: Framework for Regional Reports
2. The Development of Virtual Institutions in Canada - Dr. Glen M. Farrell (pages 13 - 22, 256 Kb.)
The Context
Current Canadian Examples of Virtual Education
The Emergence of Virtual Organisations
Summary
References
3. Distance and Virtual Learning in the United States - Dr. Peter J. Dirr (pages 23 - 48, 462 Kb.)
Introduction
The Context
Virtual University Degree Programmes
Virtual School Programmes (K-12)
Virtual Professional Development Programmes
Virtual Training Programmes
Double Glass Ceiling
Conclusion
References
Appendix 3.1: The Dirr Grid of Tertiary Distance Education
4. Distance and Virtual Learning in the Caribbean - Dr. Peter J. Dirr (pages 49 - 58, 193 Kb.)
Introduction
The University of the West Indies
Other Institutions and Programmes
Conclusion
References
5. Open and Distance Education Programmes in Latin America - Dr. Victor Guerra Ortiz (pages 59 - 76, 323 Kb.)
Introduction
Background
Present Educational Conditions in Mexico
Perspectives on Distance Education in Mexico
Computer Technology and Telecommunications in Mexico
Distance Education in Argentina
Distance Education in Cuba
Distance Education in Venezuela
Distance Education in Colombia
Distance Education in Peru
Distance Education in Costa Rica
Appendix 5.1: Literacy in Mexico by Age Group
6. European Trends in the Virtual Delivery of Education - Dr. Robin Mason (pages 77 - 88, 213 Kb.)
Issues and Perspectives
Current Examples of Virtual Education in Europe
Other Initiatives
Summary
7. Virtual Institutions on the African Continent - Mr. Vis Naidoo & Prof. Casper Schutte (pages 89 - 124, 383 Kb.)
Introduction
The Central Concept of Networks within ICT
ICT in Africa 91
Internet Connectivity in Africa
Satellite Footprints over Africa for TV
Satellite Footprint over Africa for Radio
South Africa: A Representative Example
Primary and Secondary Education Institutions and Teachers' Training Colleges
Commercial Organisations
Industrial Organisations
Broadcasting Organisations
The African Virtual University (AVU): A Representative Example
Some Other Representative African Examples
General Conclusions
8. Virtual Institutions in the Indian Subcontinent - Dr. Sugata Mitra (pages 125 - 134, 209 Kb.)
Introduction
Computing Infrastructure
Internet Accessibility
Media
Virtual Institutions
Online Activity
Future Requirements
Conclusion
9. Virtual Institutions in East and Southeast Asia - Dr. Michael Robertshaw (pages 135 - 146, 247 Kb.)
Introduction
Cyber-populations
Cyber-languages
Competition
Regional Efforts
Progress by Country
Virtual Libraries
Appendix 9.1: The Development of Virtual Institutions in Korea - Insung Jung
The Context
Virtual Education in Primary and Secondary Schools
Virtual Education in Colleges and Universities
Virtual Teacher Training
Virtual Training in Enterprises
Conclusion
10. Virtual Education Institutions in Australia - Mrs. Suellen Tapsall & Dr. Yoni Ryan (pages 147 - 164, 339 Kb.)
Introduction
Defining the Beast
The Emergence of the Beast
Towards "Virtuality"
Facing the Issues
The Australian Perspective
In the Making
Last Words
References
11. Trends in the Virtual Delivery of Education in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands -
Dr. Lalita Rajasingham (pages 165 - 170, 177 Kb.)
Introduction
New Zealand
Pacific Islands
Conclusion
References
