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March 2008 Volume 4, Number 1 |
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IN THIS ISSUE
SECOND CONFERENCE ON QUALITY A SUCCESS: INAUGURATION OF THE LOJA CIRCLE FROM OUR INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS INTERVIEW WITH DR. ARMANDO VILLARROEL FOR THE JOURNAL COGNICIÓN THIRD OFFERING OF LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE CREAD CONFERENCES2008 |
Rated a success at the closing ceremony last April 23rd, the Second CREAD Andes Conference and Second Virtual Educa Ecuador Meeting, (II Congreso CREAD Andes y II Encuentro Virtual Educa Ecuador), attracted around 700 delegates from 12 Latin-American countries, Canada and the United States. The European, Asian and African Distance Education Associations, the Commonwealth of Learning, UNESCO and the Sloan Consortium of the United States were amongst those represented.
There is a close relationship between web 1.0 and web 2.0, stated Lorenzo García Aretio in his presentation at the Second CREAD Andes Conference and Second Virtual Educa Ecuador Meeting, on April 22nd. In his talk García Aretio considered a number of technological differences between web 1.0 and web 2.0. Thus he described web 1.0 as being less dynamic and having static pages, compared to web 2.0 that was continuously updated, an example of which would be the wikis and blogs, with open content “that can be created by anyone”, as he said, at the same time pointing out that this is also possible in web 1.0 through forums, but also recognizing that the democratization of information is more evident in web 2.0, which has more social impact – and this is where the evolution of the Internet is now heading.
“What we are now talking about is attitudes, behaviors and activities, rather than web tools” says Aretio, adding that in web 2.0 “we are not talking about products so much as services”. Some of these services imply social learning, empowering learning communities, the active creation of knowledge and its diffusion, collaborative spaces and the integration of all parties: professors, parents and students. “The pedagogical principles that are touted on the Internet today as Internet discoveries on web 1.0 are decades old; the pedagogical principles of 1.0 and 2.0 provide us with immense possibilities to revive basic principles, some of which have already been forgotten, and now we see them as something new driving the Internet.” “Learning is not a given”, he said, “no matter how sophisticated our technologies are”, but if these resolve communication problems, if they open networks to learn from and with others, facilitate the exchange of information, storage of information and retrieval, and add more flexibility, then we can only embrace them”. In conclusion he offered two reflections to the researchers, professors and students present. Two agreements and one resolution signed at the conference The first of the two agreements, which was about inter-institutional cooperation, was signed by IOHE Organización Universitaria Interamericana OUI, and Virtual Educa.
Later, a general cooperation agreement was signed between IOHE OUI and the Inter-American Distance Education Consortium CREAD, with the objective of establishing academic, cultural and scientific relationships between both organizations.
Finally, the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja UTPL and the Instituto Latinoamericano de la Comunicación Educativa ILCE, signed an inter-institutional cooperation agreement.
The Loja Circle was inaugurated during a weekend retreat on April 19th/20th, 2008 at Vilcabamba, Ecuador, sponsored by the UTPL. The aim of this Circle is to reflect on the future of distance education, starting from its current state, in order to identify a vision of the future and set down the necessary steps to achieve it.
Educación Superior a Distancia (AIESAD), Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia de España (UNED), Nova Southeastern University, Inter-American Distance Education Consortium (CREAD), respectively. As one of its main objectives, the Circle defined that of generating documents to clarify ideas about distance education and propose directions to empower and improve the development of DE in Latin-America. At its inaugural meeting the Circle began by reflecting on a future vision of DE in Latin America, conducting an analysis that led to the creation of a wide-ranging index of topics that are critical for the progress of DE, structured in the following list of blocks: Block 0. Foundations of DE At this inaugural meeting of the Loja Circle a working methodology was established as well as a calendar for future activities. It is to be noted that the Loja Circle is supported by institutions and organizations connected with DE and already from the outset has links with OUI, CREAD and Virtual Educa: Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government for educational and ICT topics. The Loja Circle is committed to giving a public response to the study topics generated at the first meeting within a reasonable period. Vilcabamba, April 20th, 2008
For more information on the II Conference on Quality please visit Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/utpl/sets/72157604463544360/ FROM OUR INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS
In its academic programs, whether they are face-to-face or virtual, the Tecnológico de Monterrey uses cutting-edge technologies, in particular technological platforms which facilitate the collaborative construction of knowledge at a distance. This aspect is emphasized in the programs of the Virtual University, which is responsible for administering, offering and promoting the distance and online education of the Tecnológico de Monterrey. There can be no doubt that the Virtual University has had an outstanding impact in Mexico and Latin America, given that in 2007 approximately 127,604 students of the Tecnológico de Monterrey took part in one of the academic or extension distance programs at our university. Currently there are 2,659 pre-university students studying on-line, whilst 8,506 professional or undergraduate students are taking some of the distance courses offered by the Virtual University. The total number of courses offered in 2007, on-line and/or by satellite, was 11,165. Participation in distance courses by students enrolled in the face-to-face programs at the Tecnológico de Monterrey is increasing all the time, and out of the total number of students who graduated in professional fields in 2007, 71% took at least one class at the Virtual University. In these courses the students are able to gain experience of didactic strategies and technological tools in distance education, thus receiving training that gives them competitive advantages in the professional field. Undergraduates also have the opportunity for internationalization with or without physical mobility, as the Virtual University offers certifícate programs where they can have interaction with well-known academics and business leaders. The Support Program for the campuses of the Tecnológico de Monterrey (PACSI) offers, in cooperation with Arizona State University, the Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate to students in 17 different Mexican locations, in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte the Global Business Management Certificate to students at 13 campuses and, and in collaboration with Tsinghua University, the Certificate in Business in Asia, which is being taken at campuses in the most important cities in Mexico. With regard to postgraduate distance education, the Virtual University of the Tecnológico de Monterrey offers quality education using innovative educational models, learning networks and advanced information technologies in each of its 15 Masters programs and its doctorate. It is important to note that the Tecnológico de Monterrey, as a system, has the highest number of postgraduate students in Mexico: 11,400 students, of which 7,083 (62%) are taking their graduate courses on line. All Virtual University courses are offered on line (e-learning) except one. However, in deference to the importance of innovation in distance education, the Tecnológico de Monterrey has incorporated a new modality into its educational model: mobile learning (m-learning). Under the coordination of the Center for Innovation in Technology and Education (Innov@TE), the Virtual University’s Masters in Administration of Information Technology this year is including the use and application of mobile technology for accessing educational contents, SMS text messages (Short Message Service) and podcasting for audio and/or video. Another added value of the Virtual University’s distance education programs is that internationalization is strongly emphasized for the enrichment of every course, through international presentations, invitations to foreign professors, participation in international academic events, and certificates or degrees offered in collaboration with foreign universities. The impact of the Virtual University’s international alliances is seen not only in terms of positioning our institution but also in widening to the international experiences of our students. Up to May of 2006, approximately 1,893 students were involved in a program with a foreign university. Currently the Virtual University offers joint degrees with the University of British Columbia (Masters in Educational Technology) and Thunderbird University (Global MBA), and starting in summer 2008, will also be offering joint degrees with Arizona State University (Masters in Innovation for Business Development) and Carnegie Mellon University (Masters in Administration of Information Technologies). It should be stressed that the alliance with Thunderbird University has been particularly important in meeting the educational needs of Latin-American students in the business field. To date, more than 1,000 students have graduated from the Global MBA program, which is a graduate program offered via satellite by the Virtual University together with Thunderbird. The Global MBA is a program that is designed to prepare business leaders in Latin America to perform successfully in a global business environment. In 2007 students of 20 different nationalities took part in this program and, in addition to having quality academic instruction, and creating networks of contacts, also undertook study abroad in China, Japan, Switzerland, the United States and Spain. Virtual University students also have the opportunity to participate in other international programs, including joint courses, certificates and virtual exchanges with universities such as the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Tsinghua University, Boston University, Rovira i Virgili University and the Open University of Catalunya. Thus, the Virtual University students in the Graduate Program in Business Administration and Leadership, the Graduate Program in Engineering and Technology, the Graduate Program in Humanities and Social Sciences and the Graduate School of Education are developing competencies for knowledge management, using all the instructional potential of the information and communication technologies and acquiring the profile of a twenty-first century professional: that is, one who reaches high standards of productivity and quality; who works with profound, significant and current knowledge in his or her field of study; who is able to work collaboratively and at a distance; with leadership skills and tolerance for cultural diversity; innovative, and with high capacity to use cutting-edge technology.
INTERVIEW WITH DR. ARMANDO VILLARROEL FOR THE JOURNAL COGNICIÓN “… THERE IS ONLY ONE EDUCATION AND THE TWO MODALITIES ARE TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN”
José Luis Córica: The Inter-American Distance Education Consortium (CREAD) is today the leading institution of inter-university collaboration in distance education in the Americas. As you were one of the mentors of this initiative, we would like you to tell us how the idea of creating a non-profit consortium such as CREAD came up.
In March 2007 CREAD initiated a continuing education program on Leadership in the Strategic Management of Distance Education, in collaboration with Nova Southeastern University (NSU) and the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA). This course leads to a certificate offered by all three organizations, given in a blended learning format, but with marked predominance of the virtual and distance modality, using NSU’s educational platform as a basic teaching resource. It consists of two days of face-to-face intensive sessions followed by 6 weeks on line and at a distance. Three of these courses have been offered to date: in March 2007 at the main campus of NSU, in August 2007 in Buenos Aires, and in March 2008 at NSU again. So far, 85 participants have completed this course. The program is designed for professionals working in a wide range of positions including trainers and program directors from distance education organizations and institutions, working at different management levels, directors and administrators of training programs, directors of educational technology, and instructors. Its main objective is to contribute to the development of an effective and realistic leadership in the strategic management and development of distance education programs, quality assessment and evaluation. The program is coordinated by Dr. José Silvio, together with Dr. Armando Villarroel and Dr. Sandra Verde, all of whom are professors at NSU, plus other professors and experts who are invited for specific activities. The course content includes the main components of the strategic management of distance education, namely: creation of an organizational vision and mission, objectives and goals, action plan, strategy, types of leadership and dissemination of distance education as innovation. The exercise of leadership is seen as an interdisciplinary focus for activities in all areas and situations of strategic management in distance education.
I ENCUENTRO SOBRE DOCTORADOS DE TIEMPO COMPARTIDO E INCUBADORAS DE INVESTIGACIÓN 10 al 12 de junio de 2008
Información Online: NOVENA CONFERENCIA INTERNACIONAL XII CREAD MERCOSUR/SUL Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca
Universidad Estatal a Distancia CONTÁCTENOS Folletos Online: XII CREAD MERCOSUR, FIOCRUZ, OCTOBER 5-8, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL, ENGLISH PRESIDENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPRESENTATIVE OF NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY ANDEAN REGION (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru) BRAZIL ANGLOPHONE CANADA CARIBBEAN (Antillas, Belize, Cuba,Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Guyana, Surinam, Venezuela) CENTRAL AMERICA (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama) MEXICO SOUTHERN CONE (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LIFETIME HONORARY MEMBER CREAD REGIONAL OFFICES ARGENTINA CANADA The CREAD Electronic Newsletter will be published four times a year, in Spanish, English and Portuguese, in order to provide information about Consortium activities and to pass on professional information of interest. |
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