Barriers in Promoting e-Barriers in Promoting e-Learning in Developing Learning in Developing

Countries: A Case Study on Countries: A Case Study on BangladeshBangladesh

Presented ByPresented By

Muhammad Asif Hossain KhanMuhammad Asif Hossain Khan

Department of Computer Science & Department of Computer Science & Engineering,Engineering,

University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Points to be DiscussedPoints to be Discussed

What is e-Learning?What is e-Learning? e-Learning in Bangladeshe-Learning in Bangladesh Reasons Behind Limited UseReasons Behind Limited Use Prospective Areas for e-Learning Prospective Areas for e-Learning Barriers Likely to be FacedBarriers Likely to be Faced SummarySummary

What is e-Learning?What is e-Learning?

•A concept of using computers and web technology to teach and to learn.

•Includes

computer-based learning,

web-based learning,

virtual classrooms etc.

•Two types

synchronous

asynchronous

Points to be DiscussedPoints to be Discussed

What is e-Learning?What is e-Learning? e-Learning in Bangladeshe-Learning in Bangladesh Reasons Behind Limited UseReasons Behind Limited Use Prospective Areas for e-Learning Prospective Areas for e-Learning Barriers Likely to be FacedBarriers Likely to be Faced SummarySummary

e-Learning in Bangladeshe-Learning in Bangladesh

By Bangladeshi organizations - By Bangladeshi organizations - NONE. NONE.

Mainly used in different training Mainly used in different training programs such as Cisco (CCNA), programs such as Cisco (CCNA), Oracle (OCP) etc.Oracle (OCP) etc.

Online practices for different Online practices for different aptitude tests like TOEFL, SAT, aptitude tests like TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT are now being popular.GRE, GMAT are now being popular.

Points to be DiscussedPoints to be Discussed

What is e-Learning?What is e-Learning? e-Learning in Bangladeshe-Learning in Bangladesh Reasons Behind Limited UseReasons Behind Limited Use Prospective Areas for e-Learning Prospective Areas for e-Learning Barriers Likely to be FacedBarriers Likely to be Faced SummarySummary

Reasons Behind Limited UseReasons Behind Limited UseUnawareness of the BenefitsUnawareness of the Benefits

lack of initiatives of those grasping the lack of initiatives of those grasping the conceptconcept

lack of concept of those making the lack of concept of those making the policiespolicies

Few Internet UsersFew Internet Users high access costhigh access cost limited bandwidth limited bandwidth improper infrastructureimproper infrastructure

small telephone networksmall telephone network absence of alternative means of internet absence of alternative means of internet

accessaccess low PC densitylow PC density

PC Density in Indian-PC Density in Indian-SubcontinentSubcontinent

Fig.: PC Density (per 100 in habitants) in Subcontinent

00.20.40.60.81

1.21.41.6

Bangladesh India Pakistan Nepal Srilanka Bhutan

PC D

ensit

y (%

)

Tele density in Some Tele density in Some Asian CountriesAsian Countries

0.55

4.632.66 1.57

3.56 4.43

18.16

02468101214161820

Tel

eden

sity

(in

%)

Points to be DiscussedPoints to be Discussed

What is e-Learning?What is e-Learning? e-Learning in Bangladeshe-Learning in Bangladesh Reasons Behind Limited UseReasons Behind Limited Use Prospective Areas for e-Learning Prospective Areas for e-Learning Barriers Likely to be FacedBarriers Likely to be Faced SummarySummary

Prospective Areas for e-Learning in Prospective Areas for e-Learning in BangladeshBangladesh

Training ProgramsTraining Programs Government officialsGovernment officials Officials from private organizationsOfficials from private organizations

Small organizations having Small organizations having limited work forcelimited work force

Distance Learning ProgramsDistance Learning Programs Adult EducationAdult Education

Training ProgramsTraining Programs Government officialsGovernment officials

• BPATC arranges training programs for BPATC arranges training programs for themthem

• About 1200 participate every yearAbout 1200 participate every year

Officials from private organizationsOfficials from private organizations• Consultants are hired at high costConsultants are hired at high cost• Off site training programs are arranged Off site training programs are arranged

DrawbackDrawback• Officers either take duty leaves or they Officers either take duty leaves or they

have to make time after normal office hourshave to make time after normal office hours

Small organizations having limited Small organizations having limited work forcework force

FactsFacts Difficult and expensive to send officers Difficult and expensive to send officers

off siteoff site Disrupts productivity Disrupts productivity Takes away irreplaceable work-hoursTakes away irreplaceable work-hours

ConsequenceConsequence Organizations avoid sending employeesOrganizations avoid sending employees

RemedyRemedy Web-based training programs offered Web-based training programs offered

through web portalsthrough web portals

Distance Learning Distance Learning ProgramsPrograms

Reputed academic institutions are Reputed academic institutions are situated around two or three major situated around two or three major citiescities

ConsequenceConsequence Students from all over the country have Students from all over the country have

to rush to these citiesto rush to these cities Education becomes expensiveEducation becomes expensive Many cannot make itMany cannot make it

SolutionSolution Web-based distant education programs Web-based distant education programs

can ensure quality education for can ensure quality education for everyoneeveryone

Adult EducationAdult Education

Financial crisis forces many to give up Financial crisis forces many to give up of education earlyof education early

At later time they wish to continue with At later time they wish to continue with what they had left behindwhat they had left behind

ProblemProblem Impossible to attend regular programsImpossible to attend regular programs Difficult to attend programs run after office Difficult to attend programs run after office

hourshours SolutionSolution

Asynchronous web-based degree programs Asynchronous web-based degree programs Can participate at any time convenient for Can participate at any time convenient for

themthem

Points to be DiscussedPoints to be Discussed

What is e-Learning?What is e-Learning? e-Learning in Bangladeshe-Learning in Bangladesh Reasons Behind Limited UseReasons Behind Limited Use Prospective Areas for e-Learning Prospective Areas for e-Learning Barriers Likely to be FacedBarriers Likely to be Faced SummarySummary

Barriers Likely to be Barriers Likely to be FacedFaced Unfamiliarity with PCsUnfamiliarity with PCs Poor English ProficiencyPoor English Proficiency Slow Internet SpeedSlow Internet Speed Costly Internet AccessCostly Internet Access Social and Cultural IssuesSocial and Cultural Issues Economic DisparityEconomic Disparity

Unfamiliarity with Unfamiliarity with PCsPCs Most people are unfamiliar with Most people are unfamiliar with

computerscomputers ReasonsReasons

High price of PCHigh price of PC No use of PC in daily activity whatsoeverNo use of PC in daily activity whatsoever

ConsequencesConsequences E-learning will be hard to make popularE-learning will be hard to make popular Programs might not be cost effectivePrograms might not be cost effective

Poor English Poor English ProficiencyProficiency ReasonsReasons

Everyone speaks the same language - Everyone speaks the same language - BengaliBengali

Medium of education is mostly BengaliMedium of education is mostly Bengali ConsequencesConsequences

A huge translation jobA huge translation job Translation might lead to distortionTranslation might lead to distortion

Slow Internet SpeedSlow Internet Speed ReasonReason

Most people are connected through dialup Most people are connected through dialup connectionsconnections

Unavailability of broadband or DSL Unavailability of broadband or DSL connectionsconnections

ConsequencesConsequences Highly interactive multimedia courses will Highly interactive multimedia courses will

lose interactivitylose interactivity Courses depended on rich graphics and Courses depended on rich graphics and

animation will be received poorlyanimation will be received poorly Might be impossible to achieve objectiveMight be impossible to achieve objective

Costly Internet Costly Internet AccessAccess FactsFacts

Per capita income is less than 500 USDPer capita income is less than 500 USD Internet access cost is at the minimum Internet access cost is at the minimum

$1/hour$1/hour Metered chargingMetered charging of internet use of internet use Usage is 30% higher in countries with Usage is 30% higher in countries with

unlettered pricing unlettered pricing Time spent online is 35% higherTime spent online is 35% higher

ConsequenceConsequence Will incur added cost on e-learningWill incur added cost on e-learning Will limit the benefits that e-learning Will limit the benefits that e-learning

promisespromises

Social and Cultural Social and Cultural IssuesIssues FactsFacts

Very sensitive regarding religious Very sensitive regarding religious beliefsbeliefs

Approach of discussion differ from Approach of discussion differ from western worldwestern world

ConsequencesConsequences Already existent contents might not be Already existent contents might not be

used without modificationused without modification Have to be careful in content Have to be careful in content

developmentdevelopment

Economic DisparityEconomic Disparity FactsFacts

The gap between different economic The gap between different economic classes is largeclasses is large

People from different classes posses People from different classes posses different mentalities and share different different mentalities and share different realitiesrealities

ConsequenceConsequence The same topic might require different The same topic might require different

presentationpresentation

ConclusionConclusion Bangladesh very soon is going to be Bangladesh very soon is going to be

connected with the information super connected with the information super highway. highway.

We hope that this will decrease the cost of We hope that this will decrease the cost of Internet access and will increase the Internet access and will increase the Internet access speed.Internet access speed.

Suitable ways has to be found to tackle Suitable ways has to be found to tackle other barriers pointed out here.other barriers pointed out here.

We believe that if the launching ground can We believe that if the launching ground can be prepared, e-Learning will be very be prepared, e-Learning will be very popular in Bangladesh within short time.popular in Bangladesh within short time.

The massive popularity of Cisco/Oracle The massive popularity of Cisco/Oracle Training Programs and huge registration for Training Programs and huge registration for computer based certificate tests gives that computer based certificate tests gives that indication.indication.

AcknowledgementAcknowledgement

Thanks to ICTP for giving me Thanks to ICTP for giving me the opportunity to come here the opportunity to come here and participate in this and participate in this wonderful workshop.wonderful workshop.

Thanks to all of you for being Thanks to all of you for being patience.patience.