strategies for knowledge update and continuous educationof it professionals by professor charles o....
TRANSCRIPT
STRATEGIES FOR KNOWLEDGE UPDATE AND CONTINUOUS EDUCATIONOF IT PROFESSIONALS
ByProfessor Charles O. Uwadia,FNCS
[email protected], [email protected]
APaper presented at the 2014 Information
Technology Professionals’ Assembly
Outline of Presentation
• Imperatives of Knowledge update and continuing IT education
• Approaches / Strategies
• Knowledge update and continuing education – a lifelong process
• “When a man is tired of learning, he is tired of life”
Case for knowledge update and continuing education of IT professionals
• Dynamic nature of information technology – paradigm shift, change in Techniques, Tools and Platforms, Principles, Processes
• Rapidity of change and need for currency
• Change driven by Innovation and Competition
Objectives of Approaches
• Availability of instruction/courseware• Ease and convenience of learning• Qualitative instruction• Affordability• Relevance of knowledge and skill set –
provision for diverse categories of professionals
• Ubiquity and Open access
Approaches
• Self learning – www.chamilo.org, www.elearningindustry.com, www.webdesigncrate.com, www.olat.org
• Mandatory (Institutional) learning
Approaches
• Conventional/Traditional approach– CPN-organised continuing education seminars,
conferences, trainings and workshops at designated venues
– Develop a credit system for knowledge acquired from other certified/recognised sources
– Partnering with Accredited Training institutes to
serve as Knowledge update centres
Approaches
• The learning landscape has changed, is changing, and will continue to change due to developments in:– Broadband connectivity
– Handheld/Mobile devices
– New media technologies
Approaches
• E-Learning/Online platform– Use of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) e.g MIT
Open Courseware, Coursera
– Envisioning a future where IT professionals update their knowledge by offering courses online
– Credits are awarded for offering such courses
Approaches
– Alternatively, Blended learning model combines online platform with the traditional model for improved quality instruction and learning experience
– CPN’s Easylearning Online campus facility can be scaled up through content provisioning to serve as a Blended learning model for its continuing education programme
Approaches
– Content provisioning• Use of existing standard courseware
• Developing indigenous courseware culturised to our environment
• Partnering with corporate bodies and institutions of learning to produce courseware in areas of need
Conclusion
• Knowledge update and continuous education in IT should be a continuous, lifelong exercise
• Strategies to make it happen should be multifaceted and driven by IT
• Credit-based system that is Blended/SPOC (Small Private Online Courses) and gradually tends towards MOOC