A news publication of The Commonwealth of Learning • January 1999 Vol. 4, No. 1 PAN Commonwealth FORUM ON OPEN LEARNING Empowerment through Knowledge and Technology' A Celebration of Ten Years of the Commonwealth of Learning Wang Gungwu Renowned historian to deliver Briggs Lecture Professor Wang Gungwu will deliver the Asa Briggs Lecture at the Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning in Brunei in March. His address will bc entitled, “Education and bridging cultures. ” Currently Director of the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore and Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, Professor Wang is best known as Vice Chancellor of the University' of Hong Kong from 1986 to 1995. Previously, he was a history professor at The University of Malaya (in both Singapore and Kuala Lumpur) and at the Australian National University’s Research School of Pacific Studies. “Professor Wang brings the best traditions of Eastern and Western scholarship to any discussion relating to education, society and history, which is his special field of expertise,” said COL President, Dato’ Professor Gajaraj Dhanarajan. “His research on and academic contribution to the history of the Chinese Diaspora arc seminal works in the field; and as an academic leader and university administrator he has won acclaim from peers, colleagues and governments throughout both the Asia-Pacific region and the Commonwealth. We are fortunate to have him present the Asa Briggs Lecture at the Pan- Commonwealth Forum. ” The Asa Briggs Lecture honours COL’s founding Chairman, the Rt. Hon. Lord Briggs of Lewes, also a worldrenowned historian. Papers to provide wide insights Programme development is continuing at a fast pace for the Pan-Commonwealth Forum. Programme Manager, Professor Colin Latchem, reports that well over 100 delegates will present their work and ideas through case study presentations, workshops and posters. While not all of the papers are in at the time of writing, they promise to provide wide and fascinating insights into open learning across the full spectrum of education and training in the developed and developing countries of the Commonwealth. Case studies will range from open schooling through adult and non-formal community education to higher education, covering staff development, research and evaluation, quality' assurance, course development and delivery, media and technology, library and information services, student support and organisation and management. Papers received to date come from Australia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Britain, Brunei Darussalam, Cameroon, Canada, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Malawi, Malaysia, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda and Zimbabwe. With the Forum designed to facilitate the sharing of experiences, knowledge and ideas, these case studies will be grouped by topic and the parallel sessions will follow a format that allows presenters to put forward key points and then discuss and compare these with the other delegates’ experiences, concerns and suggestions. Workshops, which will build upon the presenters’ experiences in their own institutions, focus on such issues as the Internet and World Wide Web, librarianship and accessing global information, professional development, introducing open and flexible learning, empowering adult learners and dealing with intellectual property and copyright issues. Posters will bc featured in common areas in the magnificent Brunei Darussalam International Convention Centre. The exhibition will also include print, audio-visual, computer-based and online courseware developed by delegates and their colleagues, along with information booths set up by commercial providers of hardware, software and services. Round Tables on the first day of the Forum will receive reports from open educators from around the Commonwealth. They will bc facilitated and chaired by Dr. Abdul Khan, Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University and Dr. Ros Morpeth, Director of the UK National Extension College. The Forum also features keynote and plenary presentations by distinguished speakers from many fields, and a range of social events and educational visits. The Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning will celebrate the tenth anniversary of The Commonwealth of Learning. The event will be co-hosted by COL, the Brunei Darussalam Ministry of Education and Universiti Brunei Darussalam, and is being organised in collaboration with the Commonwealth’s open and distance learning professional associations. It will be held in Bandar Seri Begawan from 1-5 March 1999. Virtual conferences Two of the four online “virtual conferences” leading up to the Pan-Commonwealth Forum have now concluded. Distance Education and Challenged Communities was moderated by COL’s President, Professor Gajaraj Dhanarajan in October and Library/Information Systems and Student Support was led by Ms. Elizabeth Watson, of the University^ of the West Indies, and Dr. Necla Jagannathan, of the Indira Gandhi National Open University. Both were well subscribed and discussion was lively. The summaries will bc a meaningful contribution to the Forum proceedings. The first virtual conference was featured on the World Bank’s redesigned web site (www.worldbank.org) that was launched during the same time period. As a Global Knowledge partner, the COL conference was one of the first to be included in the “Development Forum” section of the new site. EdTechNews A supplement to Connections • January 1999 This edition of EdTech News will look in part at the “year-2000” (“Y2K”) issue and also consider a cost-effective alternative to the high-priced operating system software that is produced by the commercial software industry. Y2K—are you ready? A 105-year-old retired Swiss teacher in Echaliens, Switzerland, was ordered to attend elementary school, thanks to a computer that cut a century offhis age. The mix-up happened because a list of local residents recorded only the last two digits of the birth dates. So the man, along with 65 five-year-olds in the town, received a letter ordering him to start school. Thus, the town government was alerted to the need to update its computer system. The year-2000 issue has become a matter of urgency for both private and public sectors globally. It arises because many computerised systems use two digits rather than four to identify a year. Date-sensitive systems may recognise the year-2000 as 1900 or some other date, resulting in errors when information using the year-2000 is processed. Problems may also arise earlier than in the year-2000 when some systems refer to a date in the future or use certain dates in 1999 to represent something other than a date. Millions of computers around the world must be reprogrammed to recognise the year-2000. As the year-2000 rapidly approaches, educators should be looking closely at the problems that could arise from the use of older computing systems and software. In some circles it is thought that the issue only affects large, specialised “mainframe” com­ puting systems and that it will not affect school and home computers. The reality is that many computers, both mainframe and personal, manufactured before 1996 are indeed affected. The good news, however, is that fixes are available. The Y2K problem, or “millennium bug”, could show up on a personal computer in three places—from the internal real-time clock, in the operating system and/or due to applications software and utilities. An electronic clock forms part of the computer’s Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), which provides the critical information a computer needs in order to start up (or “boot”). An operating system, such as Windows 3.1, Windows 95, 98 or NT, is the computer’s internal software required for proper functioning. A non-compliant BIOS can create a snowball effect. It receives date and time information from the real-time clock, then passes it to the operating system, which passes it to any software applications (word processing, spreadsheet, etc.) that need it. Because the BIOS receives time and date information in a two-digit format, it adds the century indicators. A non-compliant BIOS, however, will add a “19” instead of a “20”. IBM and compatible computers, (including Compaq, Dell, Digital, Gateway and Hewlett-Packard) built before 1996 with Pentium or order chips could face millennium bug issues, depending on which version of the BIOS chip the computer has. As far as operating systems, Windows 98 appears to be problem free, while Windows 3.1 and older versions of Windows 95 and NT will need software patches to achieve full compliance. One of the central sources of information on whether your computer may be compliant is the NSTL, Inc. web site. NSTL was established in 1983 as the world’s first independent organisation dedicated exclusively to testing the functionality, usability, and performance of hardware and software. The web site provides a small test programme that analyses a computer’s BIOS to establish whether an upgrade is needed (www.nstl.com). Also, most major computer manufacturers have included downloadable BIOS upgrades in their web sites. Most applications software manufacturers, such as Microsoft Corporation (www.microsoft.com) have prepared web sites that provide information on whether their software or hardware complies with Y2K, and many have included downloadable software upgrades. Apple Computer, Inc. asserts that all Macintosh computers and operating systems should be compliant until the year 29940, provided all other products (e.g., other software, firmware and hardware) used with it properly exchange date data with the Apple product (www.apple.com)\ Any other system with embedded computer technology could also be at risk. Examples include telephones, fax machines, alarms, generators and local and wide-area networks. In preparing for the year-2000, a review of all systems should begin immediately if it has not already been done. To assist in further exploring the year-2000 issue and how it might affect educational systems, COL is planning to host a “round table” discussion to be held in early 1999. Desktop video/audio production COL continues to explore and pilot projects that provide low-cost technological advancements. Projects have focussed on health education, teacher training, learner support and technical/vocational education and training. Recently, COL has installed portable “briefcase” community broadcasting stations in several locations (see accompanying Connections article) and desktop video/audio production suites. continued on page 2 Left to right: Mr. Samuel Thompson, Technician, and Antonio Katakwe, Producer/Director, and COL’s desktop video/audio production system in Zambia South Pacific, will provide support within the Pacific. Ms. Subramanian Rama joined the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia in November 1998 as Programme Officer, Multimedia. She brings with her ten years of experience in designing electronic and multmedia learning systems for a variety of clients. Two Chief Programme Officers from the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Education Department left London in October to head up regional programmes. Mr. Jeff Bost has taken on the regional directorship of the Commonwealth Youth Programme’s South Pacific Centre in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Dr. Lucy Steward has been appointed Registrar of the Caribbean Examinations Council in St. Michael, Barbados. COL is grateful for their assistance in the past but is pleased to know that there will be continuing liaison and collaboration in their new roles. Events Open schooling in India With funding support from UNESCO, and in conjunction with India’s National Open School (NOS), a national conference on net­ working and collaboration in open schooling was convened in Goa in November. The symposium was attended by secretaries of state education from throughout India as well as by directors of state open schools. The purpose and result of the meeting was to encourage the establishment of state open schools throughout India, in order to increase access to educational opportunities at the basic schooling level, and to explore the roles that NOS can play, such as in the provision of learning materials, staff training and administrative support. Southern Africa collaboration Terms extended for COL Chairman and President Ian Macdonald Gajaraj Dhanarajan At its meeting held in September in Vancouver, COL’s Board of Governors acclaimed Dr. H. Ian Macdonald, O.C. as Chairman for a special third term, running from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2002, and unanimously approved a further extension of the term of office for its President and Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Professor Gajaraj Dhanarajan. Dr. Macdonald has had a distinguished career in academia and government. He served the Canadian Province of Ontario as Deputy Minister of Treasury, Economics, and Intergovernmental Affairs and, later, as President of York University, a position he held for more than ten years. He was then Director of York International for another ten years. He is now President Emeritus and Professor of Economics and Public Policy at York University and Director of the Master of Public Administration Program. He has chaired the COL Board of Governors since January 1994. Professor Dhanarajan has an international reputation as an expert on and advocate for open and distance learning and the application of appropriate educational technologies. Early in his career, he helped to develop distance education programmes at the University of Science in Malaysia and other South Asian institutions. In 1989, he joined the newly established Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong (now the Open University of Hong Kong) as Associate Director (Academic), and served as Director from 1991 to 1995. He became President of COL in September 1995. Two meetings were held in September to further the collaboration among eight Southern African countries toward COLfacilitated programmes: “Strategic contact persons” met in Harare and developed a plan of action for the implementation of a project to increase access to secondary school level education through the production of quality learning materials. A regional training workshop for curriculum team leaders in the development of distance education training programmes for teachers of lower/junior secondary science, technology and mathematics subjects (“STAMP 2000+”) was held in Pretoria (with funding assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat). STAMP 2000+ writers workshops were held in November in Gaborone, Botswana, and in December in Kariba, Zimbabwe— and the COL Programme Advisory Committee for Southern Africa also met in Gaborone in November. Barriers to technology for women In collaboration with the British Council in New Delhi, COL convened an international meeting to develop strategies to overcome identified obstacles encountered by women in accessing communications and information technologies in open and distance learning. A number of recommendations and three draft project proposals were also produced. Experts from Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka attended the meeting. Funding support from local British Council offices in Bangladesh, Malaysia and Sri Lanka enabled participation from those countries. AAOU c98 The 12th annual conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) was hosted by The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) in November 1998. COL co-sponsored a pre-conference workshop on distance librarianship and COL’s President delivered a plenary address. Professor Tam Sheung-wai, Vice-Chancellor of OUHK, was elected AAOU President for 1998/99. T&T launches national distance learning system The formal launch of Trinidad & Tobago’s nationally co-ordinated Distance Learning System took place in Port of Spain in December 1998. COL was represented at the launch by its Regional Adviser, Dr. Dennis Irvine, who delivered a presentation at the opening ceremony on the potential that distance education holds for the Caribbean. COL was also among the institutions that were invited to showcase their work in an exhibition. A highlight of the occasion was the awarding of certificates to the successful local participants in COL’s Rajiv Gandhi Fellowship Scheme. Post-graduate diplomas were presented to seven students, with four also receiving their Master’s of Art s in Distance Education degrees, both conferred by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (India). JANUARY 1999 Volume 4, Number 3 Connectionspublished by The Commonwealth of Learning. C Ol is an international organisation created by Commonwealth 1 leads of Government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning/distance education resources and technologies. Chairman: Dr. H. Ian Macdonald, O.C. President Emeritus York University, Canada President & CEO: Dato’ Professor Gajaraj Dhanarajan Unless otherwise stated, items appearing in Connections may be reproduced. Acknowledgement should bc made to The Commonwealth of Learning. Further details on any news item that appears in Connections may bc obtained by contacting COL’s Public Affairs Office, or by visiting our World Wide Web site. The Commonwealth of Learning 1285 West Broadway, Suite 600 Vancouver, BC, V6H 3X8 Canada Tel: 604.775.8200 Fax: 604.775.8210 Telex: 04507508 COM LEARN E-mail: info@col.org World Wide Web: www.col.org Connections is edited by Mr. Dave Wilson. In November 1998, COL installed a production suite at the Technical Education and Vocational Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA), formerly the Department of Technical and Vocational Education (DTVET), in Zambia. The project was formulated to enhance TEVETA'’s capacity to produce quality audio and video educational content for use both by the national broadcaster and by students using the 26 regional TEVETA training centres. Along with the equipment, COL provided training in the use of the video and audio edit software, desktop publishing, graphics, web publishing, and Internet connectivity. The system is entirely desktop computer-based with the addition of a portable tape and video deck/camera for field operation. Online library catalogues COL recently converted its Information Resource Centre ( IRC ) cataloguing system to run on new web-based software, which allows it to be available for searching by anyone, at any time through the World Wide Web. This was completed after an evaluation of a number of library software packages. The software selected, called WebSuite, includes a cataloguing module, an online public access catalogue (OPAC), database configuration and conversion tools and a serials control module. It is produced by a Canadian company, BestSeller Inc., which is a leading North American supplier of year-2000 compliant library software and services. WebSuite is aimed primarily at small libraries although the company produces software for large libraries operating on UNIX or NT platforms. As an introduction and/or for libraries wishing to create an entry-level, web-based OPAC from their catalogue, Best-Seller offers its WebSuite Start programme as a free-ofcharge download. The software includes a configuration tool to convert an existing catalogue (MARC, dbase format, ASCII label, or ODBC ) to a web-ready OPAC; a keyword search engine with boolean operators (“and”, “or”, “begins with”); Bibcat, a cataloguing tool for bibliographic records; Sitecat, a cataloguing tool for Web sites; and WebSuite Start Server, a standard http server that can run on all windows platforms. COL’s OPAC can be accessed through: www.col.org/irc Best-Seller, Inc.: www.bestseller.com e-mail: info@bestseller.com (English or French) Linux, a lower-cost operating system There are many factors that make it difficult for educators to implement computers in schools, including the costs and availability of electricity, phone lines, hardware and software. In the software area, educational institutions are looking at alternatives to the high cost and restrictions of licensing software from companies such Microsoft Corporation. As an alternative to Microsoft’s Windows operating system, Linux software has become a serious contender. Linux is classified as “open-source” software as it is developed and improved collaboratively by thousands of volunteer programmers around the world. Unlike proprietary operating systems such as Windows, Linux developers and users have access to the system’s underlying software code and can modify that code under certain conditions. This, however, can be a drawback in that there is a limited (although increasing) supply of applications software that can be run on Linux workstations—and this does restrict its popularity. The Mexican government plans to install the free Linux operating system in 140,000 elementary—and middle-school computer labs around the country. Over the next five years, the government’s Scholar Net programme will furnish Mexican students with access to the World Wide Web and e-mail, as well as word processing and spreadsheet applications. The Linux in Schools Project, in Oregon, USA, also operates an extensive web site as a service to schools that have adopted Linux as a network operating system. The site provides advice on implementation and ongoing support. The main progress that Linux is currently making is at the server level; not as much headway has yet been made in the desktop/workstation area. With Linux also being adapted for use in some educational institutions in countries where English is not a first language, and with the open-source code, it is being suggested that students in the schools might become the frontline of programmers in developing Linux software applications. EdTech News Linux software is available as a free download (through the World Wide Web) or from distributors such as Red Hat Software that distribute Linux at a cost of USS50 for a pair of installation CDs and a manual. Red Hat’s version of Linux can be copied from system to system as many times as necessary at no extra charge. Linux is a Unix-like programme that is said to be more reliable, adaptable and efficient than commercial operating system software. These qualities also make Linux a good choice for use on older, less expensive computer equipment (after checking Y2K compliance!). Using Linux software, COL has been able to host its Pan-Commonwealth Forum virtual conferences and other e-mail forums on an old 486/66 server. Linux Online: www.linux.com Red Hat Software, Inc.: www.redhat.com Scholar Net programme in Mexico: www. nuclecu. unarm. mx/-arturo/schola r Linux in Schools Project: www. riverdale.kl2.or. us/linux/k 12linux EdTech News is published by The Commonwealth of Learning as a supplement to the Connections newsletter. The Commonwealth of Learning 1285 West Broadway, Suite 600 Vancouver, BC V6H 3X8 Canada Tel: 604.775.8200 Fax: 604.775.8210 Telex: 04507508 COMLEARN E-mail: info@col.org World Wide Web: www.col.org EdTech News is written and compiled by Mr. David Walker (Education Specialist, Educational Technology’) and Ms. Sue Parker (Library Technician, Information Resource Centre). Descriptions of products are provided for information only and do not constitute endorsement by The Commonwealth of Learning. Connections and EdTech News are edited by Mr. Dave Wilson. Virtual conferences...from page 1 The COL virtual conferences continue with Accreditation, Quality Assurance and Credit Banking talcing place from 11-29 January (moderated by Dr. David Woodhouse, New Zealand Universities Academic Audit Unit) and Staff Development going online from 1-20 February (moderated by Ms. Bernadette Robinson, an international training consultant). The conferences are e-mail based, with archives of postings available on the web for subscribers. Further information on the Pan-Commonwealth Forum and the virtual conferences, summaries of previous discussions and instructions on how to join are all available on the Forum web site (www.col.org/forum) or by contacting the Forum secretariat at COL’s Vancouver headquarters (forum@col.org). Funding update The Commonwealth of Learning gratefully acknowledges contributions to its core funding, received to date during current year (from 1 July 1998), from Australia, Barbados, the Province of British Columbia (Canada), Canada, Cyprus, Guyana, Maldives, Malta, Namibia, New Zealand, Samoa, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Swaziland, Tonga and the United Kingdom. At their meeting in November, Commonwealth Senior Officials commended COL for the valuable work it is doing to promote distance education and open learning, and they urged member governments to help place COL on a sounder financial footing. Canada, Neu/ Zealand and UK support Forum The Honourable Diane Marleau, Canada’s Minister for International Cooperation (responsible for the Canadian International Development Agency), has announced a new CDNS110,000 contribution to COL to support the travel costs of selected delegates from developing Commonwealth countries to enable them to present papers or act as resource persons at the Pan-Commonwealth Forum in Brunei. Industry Canada has also contributed some funds for the same purpose and the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has agreed to sponsor the travel costs of keynote speaker, the Honourable Maurice Strong, Chairman of the Earth Council. In addition, New Zealand's Official Development Assistance (NZODA) will assist with travel costs for Pacific Islanders and the British Council will provide transportation for tvo plenary presenters, Dr. Ros Morpeth, Director of the National Extension College, and Sir John Daniel, Vice-Chancellor of the UK Open University. Database of online courses COL joins others in supporting Canadian initiative COL is supporting TeleEducation NB (Province of New Brunswick, Canada) in die further development of the TeleCampus Online Course Database, an initiative to index online courses from around the world into a single Web-based source. The Online Course Database currently lists over 8,100 courses from 530 institutions in 12 countries. It contains the most comprehensive listing of online courses and programmes available world-wide. These are courses that can be accessed by students from anywhere if they have a computer and an Internet connection—although many require the payment of fees. All educational sectors are represented, from pre-schoolers to retirees, and courses vary from graduate level engineering (e.g., Introduction to Orbital Mechanics) to simple “How to” instructions (e.g., How to Open a Coconut). The Online Course Database is sponsored by the World Bank Group, The Commonwealth of Learning, the Office of Learning Technologies (Industry Canada, Government of Canada), the Government of New Brunswick, L’Agence de la Francophonie, Le Consortium international francophone de formation a distance (CIFFAD) and Le Centre international pour le développement de l’inforoute en français (CIDIF). Those interested in learning more about TeleCampus can visit the web site (telecampus.edu). To search the database, click on “Courses.” COL in Action First legislative drafting students complete course Four Malaysians and two Singaporeans were recognised by the Commonwealth Distance Training Programme in Legislative Drafting in a ceremony held on 4 December in the Attorney General’s Chambers in Kuala Lumpur. They are among the first to fulfil the requirements of the new international programme. The course, print materials, audio tapes and assignments were designed specifically for independent study of the principles and practices of legislative drafting and the processes of preparing government legislation. While a course co-ordinator in England guided student progress, experienced professionals within local drafting workplaces also provided support. The course was developed jointly by The Commonwealth of Learning and the Commonwealth Secretariat to meet the needs of member jurisdictions by providing workplace training rather than having to send trainees overseas for an extended period. Certificates were presented to Ms. Chan Bee Keng, Ms. Rozita binti Ramli, Ms. Mazni binti Nawi of Malaysia and to Mr. Lee Chuan Huei and Mr. David Lim (in absentia) of Singapore. The Programme also issued completion certificates to legislative drafters in Cyprus, Falkland Islands and India. Presenting legislative drafting certificates in Kuala Lumpur. From left to right: Dato’ Professor Gajaraj Dhanarajan, The Honourable Dato ’ Ahmad Zaki bin Haji Husin (Deputy Parliamentary Draftsman, Malaysia, officiating), Mrs. Rozita binti Ramli (receiving her certificate) and Ms. Haslina binti Mansor (assisting with the ceremony) Caribbean teacher education inventory COL regularly facilitates meetings of Chief Education Officers from throughout the Commonwealth Caribbean, including UK associated states, so that they can help in programme evaluation and development of new activities. The meetings also give the CEOs an opportunity to share experiences and reduce duplication of efforts throughout the region. When they met again in Barbados in October, they received an Inventory and report on teacher education materials and programmes in the Commonwealth Caribbean, which was prepared by Ms. Christine Marrett, of the University of the West Indies Distance Education Centre (UWIDEC), and Dr. Claudia Harvey, UNESCO Sub-regional Education Adviser for the Caribbean. The research was organised and supported by COL, UWIDEC and UNESCO. The executive summary is available on COL’s web site at: www.col.org/consultancies/98Carib Inventory.h tm or linked from the COL home page through “Consultancies”. Appreciation for COL’s continuing work in the region was also expressed by ministers responsible for human resource development and education who were attending the second annual meeting of the CARICOM Council on Human and Social Development in Georgetown, Guyana, in November 1998. TVET Net To encourage and facilitate discussion among vocational educators throughout the Commonwealth and beyond, COL has created an electronic forum, specifically for discussions relating to technical/vocational education and training (TVET). You are invited to join: send an e-mail message to majordomo@hub.col.org, with “subscribe tvet