E-Learning Evolution: Global E-Learning Portals and Their Elements--The Global E-Learning Hub--Part I

The diagram that I posted in the previous post was designed by me to visually illustrate not only the parts that I think should make up each portal but also the collaborative relationships that should exist.

The focal point in each portal is what I would call a Global E-Learning Hub.

Global E-Learning Hub: As the name implies, this is the main focal point for the portal. Within each portal there are two types of countries within the context of online learning. There are countries who have a well developed infrastructure that supports high speed Internet access and already have a high percentage of their population that not only have access but use the Internet as a regular part of their daily lives and then there are countries that are at various stages of developing the needed infrastructure and only the professional disciplines use the Internet on a regular basis.

" How do we overcome inequity in order to make E-Learning accessible to greater percentages of have not countries?"

I would approach this question from two points. First, I would draw your attention to the analogy of the mentor/ apprentice construct of the trade guilds of the 13th -17th century . The mentor or master craftsman had skillsets that were predicated on striving for excellent quality in their craft. The same is true of those countries today who have learned what the pitfalls of establishing appropriate infrastructure for Internet access are and also for developing effective E-Learning programs and know, through experience, how to streamline and customize the process. The apprentice would be mentored by the mentor until they would reach the stage of being what is called a journeyman. Applying this construct to the countries in various stages of development for the purpose of E-Learning, we could see an important mentoring relationship develop. 

For this reason, I would suggest that each Global E-Learning Hub would be established in countries that are advanced in their establishment of infrastructure and E-Learning development. Those countries within the portal that are in various stages of development, I would label as "protege nations" and they would come under the direct mentoring of the established nations when it comes to E-Learning.

The second point I would approach this from is a business perspective. Obviously, there is cost in every development that we attempt that requires innovative approaches. 

"What is the role of the corporate community and what ROI and other benefits can be expected from such a plan?"

Any 21st century business hoping to continue to grow in the area of education and especially online education has every right to ask about the potential of a return on their investment in online education. Based on economic predictions, the following would needed to be seriously considered.

Credit: www.etutorworld.com

Credit: www.dazeinfo.com

What we can discern from the above data is that from a business perspective, we can see where the areas of predicted growth in Internet use and E-Learning will be in the future if we are able to bring order and form to E-Learning within a global context. From a business perspective, there are many opportunities to lead in innovation rather than follow when there is a unified vision and purpose to what we are trying to accomplish.

Next.... What exactly is the function of a Global E-Learning Hub?