Creating a vision for e-learning in Cameroon
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Steadily growing student populations, scarce resources for learning material and overcrowded campuses present huge challenges for Higher Education in Cameroon today. Supported by UNU-ViE and an international consortium of university partners, the University of Yaoundé I embraces ICT as a tool for educational reform. In this context, the first out of four e-learning workshops took place in Yaoundé from 23 until 30 June 2011. |
Responding to the lack of structured and formal training programmes that help higher education teachers to develop e-learning competences, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) funds a two-year project for the development of e-learning at the Ècole Normale Supérieure (Higher Teacher Training College) of the University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon’s oldest university.
The project aims at developing content, skills and understanding of eLearning methodologies and techniques in order to improve the teaching process, provide better access and raise the quality of higher education in Yaoundé I. Particular targets are:
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building capacities for the use of e-learning in Higher Education
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starting a reform process of education by providing the means to change from transfer-oriented concepts to study- and learning-oriented concepts of education
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creating a university-wide accessible repository for digital learning materials which – for the first time – will make basic course materials, lecture scripts and self-study materials available to students.
First e-learning workshop at Yaoundé I
Professors from various disciplines got an introduction to e-learning in Higher Education by Prof. Ulf-Daniel Ehlers from the University of Duisburg Essen. In the following, in a highly participatory format and supported through Graphic Facilitation by Maike Schansker, UNU-ViE, professors and students across disciplines, universities and national borders worked together to create a vision for e-learning at the University of Yaoundé I.
Sharing experiences
To allow participants to exchange ideas, share experience and address concerns with other e-learning practitioners, the project includes further partners from Africa, namely the University of Kenyatta, Kenya, and the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
During the workshop, Dr Speranza Ndege, Kenyatta University, shared her experience how to successfully integrate e-learning into a university. Dr. Ndege and Tony Carr from the University of Cape Town, demonstrated different blended learning modules, learning activities and effective communication tools for an online environment.
In consequence of some hands-on-practice with the open source Learning Management System Moodle and inspired by the success stories of their African colleagues, participants from Yaoundé started developing their own e-learning model and setting up their courses in Moodle.
Following the first eSchool, which focused on learning about models and developing material, the participants from Cameroon, Kenya and South Africa will stay in touch through the organization of educational online events.
Background
Fully supported by the Rector of the University of Yaoundé, Prof. Oumarou Bouba, the cooperation between Yaoundé I and UNU-ViE in the field of e-learning dates back to 2008.
Further information about the cooperation is available here:
University in Cameroon plans new e-learning laboratory to challenge the digital divide
Fact finding mission to the University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon