National Course on E-Learning and Computer Courseware Development

Post-event Statement

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Purpose

The course will cover the following topics:

• General concepts and procedures of computer courseware development
• Analysis of audience and contents
• Methodology and tools of courseware development
• Multimedia courseware development
• Presentation and evaluation of the developed courseware

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Background

E-Learning can be very effective tool to expand educational opportunities in the countries like Nepal, which has a big geographical diversity. It can be employed to reduce the illiteracy rate of Nepal which currently stands at 45%, as it is possible to provide mass education with very less investment. With multimedia technology we can produce effective, comprehensive and engaging educational materials. Hence bringing quality education and good teachers to the rural areas is easier, provided that we invest on low-cost ICT. Training the existing manpower and equipping them with the appropriate skills will produce market-ready workforce. Country like Nepal, whose highest foreign exchange earning source is remittance, can apply E-learning to train its overseas workers or those who are preparing to go abroad for employment.

The employment of multimedia technology in education makes it possible to illustrate and to grasp complex industrial processes and difficult scientific concepts. However, the development of multimedia content is still a very costly and tedious task. Courseware development can be effectively designed using a systems approach as well as integrating appropriate principles of instructional systems design.

In order to produce well trained teachers capable of developing quality educational materials to offer E-Learning, they should be trained with skills needed to develop good courseware accommodating a range of learning styles. ADBI organized a pilot course in Nepal in February 2007 which was positively evaluated by the participants and the government officials. Looking at the effectiveness of the course, Government of Nepal, requested ADBI to organize this follow up course.

The follow-up course deals with the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of technology-based, content-intensive, courseware. The product may be constructed with an authoring system or a state-of-the-art, visual-programming language. It may be accessed from a CD-ROM and may be learnt through websites. The goal is for the participants to become proficient in the analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation of computer courseware in a state-of-the-art, multimedia environment.

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Objectives

Specific objectives of the course are to:

• Develop multimedia courseware, based on sound learning theories and instructional strategies,
• Conduct alpha and beta tests for accuracy and usability of the courseware,
• Convert the developed courseware into web-based course, CD-ROM based course and courses for mobile devices,
• Evaluate the developed courseware, and
• Develop strategies for deploying the courseware.

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Outputs

• Sixty-seven trained participants in courseware development
• Developed computer courseware during the workshop
• Computer courseware development plans
• Summary of course proceedings

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Participants

Government officials in charge of education and training, teachers from Nepal (by invitation only)

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Language

English (No interpretation will be provided)

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Cosponsors

Government of Nepal (Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology), Forum for Information Technology, Nepal, Nepal Resident Mission of the Asian Development Bank

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Partners

National Information Technology Center
St. Xavier’s College
Asian eLearning Pvt. Ltd.