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IEC current
research
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IEC engages
in research in order to be proactive
and visionary in the formulation of its working
agenda, to raise its profile and disseminate its
findings. Thus we contribute to the body of
knowledge on open and distance learning.
Increasingly during the late 1990s, education
came to be seen as a distinct and central factor
in development. This perception led IEC to
develop its research in the following areas:
~ teacher education
~ nomadic education
~ information and communication technology
~ gender and development
~ basic education
Research projects give IEC the opportunity to
explore specific interests, use its findings to
address the poverty alleviation/elimination agenda
and contribute to the development of policy on
Education for All (EFA). We conduct research in
partnership with local organisations and
individuals.
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Case study: nomadic
education, Nigeria
Nomadic education:
In Nigeria we have been studying education for nomadic pastoralist
groups in the north and migrant fisher communities in the south.
We have worked with a team of Nigerian educationists involved
in nomadic education to conduct an eighteen-month research project,
funded
by DFID.
The research has consulted widely with communities, teachers,
education sector officers at every level and officials in related
government, parastatal and non-governmental sectors. Integral
in the research was sharing and discussing of findings as widely
as possible, both during and at the close of
the study.
As part of this approach, we held electronic conferences with
participation from NGOs and individuals around the world, a face-to-face
conference to discuss interim findings and a seminar to review
draft final findings of the research. (more background) |
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current IEC
research
Current and
recent research includes:
> the ICT
and gender project documents and analyses women’s strategies
for success when using communication technologies in Guyana -
details
> teacher
education research, studying the impact on communities in Uganda,
Guyana and Nigeria of teacher training programmes offered at
a distance - details
> a review
of the applications of information technologies to the development
of teacher education in Africa |
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Title of research project: Teacher education at
a distance; impact on development in the community
Lead researchers: Tony Wrightson, Dr Felicity Binns
Contracted by: DFID
Summary:
In order to successfully develop and deliver a programme of teacher
education at a distance it is necessary to establish an integrated
infrastructure, which has numerous stakeholders at many levels.
This infrastructure reaches out into the community in a way that
is unique to each programme. It touches many varied aspects of
the wider community. Training teachers at a distance enables
them to remain within their communities: school, educational
and social environments. This research with identify how a distance
method of delivery to the teacher impact on these communities
and their capacities and it will inform educators, policy makers
and funders on the role distance education plays in community
development.
Collaborating
Institutions:
(1) National Teachers' Institute, Kaduna, Nigeria, (2) Institute
of Teacher Education Kyambogo, Kampala, Uganda, (3) Cyril Potter
College of Education, Demerara, Guyana, (4) Guyana In-Service
Distance Education Unit, Georgetown, Guyana |
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Title of research project: Technologies for learning:
How can they be used to benefit women learners at the margins?
Lead researcher: Dr Barbara Spronk
Contracted by: DFID
Summary: Technologies
such as audio/radio, video/television, telecommunication and
computer-mediated communication offer exciting possibilities
for helping to bring learning opportunities to people throughout
the developing world. Nonetheless, for peoples who exist on the
margins of the world's societies, enthusiasm must be tempered
be the hard realities of poverty of income and infrastructure,
Women within these groups are doubly marginalised in terms of
access and control over learning resources. This research will
identify the issues for women in marginalised groups in terms
of access, control, costs, choices and learning preferences with
regard to technologies for learning; describe in case study format
some of the ways they are addressing these challenges; and draw
from these case studies advice and recommendations both to other
learners and to distance education providers.
Collaborating
Institution and researchers: (1) Institute for Distance and Continuing
Education, University of Guyana, Georgetown, Guyana; co-researchers:
Lynette Anderson, Elaine Thomas and four regional coordinators
as regional researchers. |
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Title of research project: Nomadic education in
Nigeria: strategic directions for improving education access
for nomads, pastoralists and migrants
Lead researcher: Jason Pennells
Contracted by: DFID
Summary:
Pastoralist nomads and other migrants are typically on the periphery
of or outside national and local educational systems. Attempts
to move towards universal access to education must address the
problems of improving the access these members of society have
to education. The education available must be meaningful to them
and equip them with the skills and knowledge they require.
How this can be achieved, and what constitutes meaningful education
has implications for curriculum, accreditation, infrastructure,
alternative delivery methods, formal and nonformal approaches,
national and international policy directions and human rights.
Issues of self-determination and maintenance of the cultural
identity of minorities as against homogenisation and assimilation
into mainstream society are particularly pressing.
This research will analyse the current situation as is stands
in Nigeria and assess the potential of the possible options for
future development in nomadic education in that country. From
this study, the research will offer conclusions with implications
for the support of education programmes for nomads and migrant
communities in the Nigerian context and elsewhere in Africa and
the developing world.
Link to and
join the virtual conference associated with this research: see IEC conferences
page for details
Collaborating
Institutions and researchers: (1) University of Maiduguri, Nigeria;
research coordinator: Dr Abdelmumini Sa'ad (2) National Commission
for Nomadic education, Nigeria; co-researcher: Mr Aliyu Ardo
(3) University of Jos, Nigeria; co-researcher: Professor Chimah
Ezeomah. |
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