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Interview with subject matter expert and tutor, Martin Lopez

Mon, 14 Jul 2014 15:36:55 GMT

by Hanna a.

About Martin Lopez

Martin Lopez has over 14 years of professional experience in trade - related technical assistance. Prior to joining ITC in 2010, he worked on designing and providing trade information and market intelligence services for exporters through CeproBol (the Bolivian Export Promotion Agency) of which he later became Executive Director. Martin holds a degree in International Trade Sciences and a post graduate degree in Business Administration. His role at ITC is to coordinate technical interventions and capacity building activities in various countries on behalf of ITC’s Trade Information Services Section

ITC E-learning recently sat down with Martin and discussed his views on e-learning as employed by the ITC, the challenges faced in course development, and his ideas for the future of e-learning.

ITC E-Learning: What do you see as the main advantages of e-learning?

Martin: I see e-learning as an additional channel to interact with our clients and to share ITC’s knowledge. It is a unique way to trigger discussion with people in the field who work hands-on in TRTA, by creating a dialogue and receiving feedback in the discussion forum, which also allows participants to feel accompanied and coached in the courses they take.

ITC E-Learning: What do you think about the idea of peer grading? Do you think it could be useful for the courses?

Martin: Peer grading could be a good way to prompt participants to gain more knowledge on certain topics through checking the work that others have done, but at the same time, some answers can be quite subjective sometimes, “neither black nor white,” so there should still be an experienced person there to summarise contributions and points of view, as well as to wrap-up discussion and to provide feedback.

ITC E-Learning: I feel that the way courses are structured with case studies makes them more interesting for students. What are your views on the way case studies are used now, and will be used in the future?

Martin: Actually, case studies are the most challenging part of constructing a course, since they need to relate to the daily experiences that our participants are facing. We want our cases to evolve: in 5 years, we won’t have the same courses as we do today. We will adapt them to new environments and refresh them regularly. Courses need to be very dynamic and in constant evolution.

ITC E-Learning: What are some practical ways in which e-learning is being used at ITC?

Martin: For example, we will soon launch an online course in Malawi, for the Malawi Investment & Trade Centre (MITC) which is our partner in the implementation of a Trade Information related project. Before we undertake training in the field, we will have some online training sessions in order to install a “common language” among the participants and to introduce them to the main concepts of trade intelligence, which will lead to an optimization of resources from many angles.

ITC E-Learning: Which learning styles you consider the most effective for the participants?

Martin: One of the interesting resources that we have introduced are whiteboard videos, which can feature a graphic representation of a hand sketching out the lesson concepts visually. This is not a very difficult technique to use at all, and at the same time, it makes it so much easier for participants to visualise elements being discussed.

It’s interesting to test this type of resources; nonetheless, we should be careful with the types of technology we use. We have to make sure that lectures are easily accessible for everyone everywhere in terms of connectivity and internet speed.

All of the lectures are also available offline, as we provide PDF versions of them. Once they are printed, they are available to participants at any time, even when they do not have an internet connection. This flexible approach has increased the effectiveness of our courses.

ITC E-Learning: Thank you very much for your time.

More about MOOCs and developing countries

Thu, 13 Feb 2014 08:24:14 GMT

by Raphael Dard.

What might 2014 bring for MOOCs, especially as might relate to situations and circumstances in so-called ‘developing countries’?

From a World Bank blog on ICTs and education

Read more

Role of teachers in e-learning spotlight

Mon, 11 Nov 2013 11:07:46 GMT

by Vijeany Manguila.

Role of teachers in e-learning spotlight

The leading role that teachers play in implementing smart learning into the educational system was highlighted on the opening day of the third edition of the Professional Programme organised by the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF).
Held in collaboration with the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies for Publishing, the event, which gathered around 300 publishers from around the world at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, highlighted several aspects of the digital world, pointing out its importance in the UAE’s educational system as well as the challenges facing Arab publishers.

November 4, 2013

for more information,click here

Kalimat Publishing, Samsung sign e-learning agreement

Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:41:16 GMT

by Vijeany Manguila.

Kalimat Publishing, Samsung sign e-learning agreement

Monday, Oct 28, 2013

Taking another step forward towards the use of technology to support education in the Emirates, Kalimat Publishing Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with mobile technology provider Samsung to facilitate the implementation of the e-learning programmes of Horouf Educational Publishing.

For more information,click here

Africa’s mobile phone e-learning transformation

Fri, 18 Oct 2013 15:03:01 GMT

by Vijeany Manguila.

Mobile phone ownership across the continent is rocketing, but can it expand higher education’s reach and quality?

Lesego is 18 and lives in an isolated village in western Botswana. She is smart and wants to study for a degree, but the nearest universities are several hundred miles away in the east of the country, and she cannot afford to relocate. Instead, she is learning remotely. She does not use a computer, because her family cannot afford one and the electricity supply is prone to frequent outages, but her newly purchased smartphone allows her access to the internet and a suite of online courses – offered by some of the most respected universities in the world – as well as the most up-to-date literature, all at very little cost.

12 September 2013

click here for more information

12th World CONFERENCE ON Mobile and Contextual Learning

Wed, 09 Oct 2013 08:19:24 GMT

by Vijeany Manguila.

12^th World CONFERENCE ON Mobile and Contextual Learning

mLearn from October 22-24, 2013 (with pre-conference workshops on October 21, 2013).

mLearn includes applications of innovative mobile and ubiquitous technologies for learning.It covers new educational and technological methods and concepts for supporting formal and informal learning, as well as seamless learning across contexts, and transitions between different types of learning.

iLearning Forum Paris 2014

Tue, 08 Oct 2013 15:31:26 GMT

by Vijeany Manguila.

11 AND 12 FEBRUARY 2014 - ESPACE CHAMPERRET - PARIS - HALL A

FREE ACCESS TO THE SHOW AND CONFERENCES

iLearning Forum Paris 2014 will open its doors on February 11th and 12th 2014 at Espace Champerret of Paris by welcoming e-learning, Training, HR and Talent Management professionals of the whole world.

iLearning Forum 2014 will welcome around 80 exhibitors, international conferences and products workshops that will allow the 5000 expected visitors from more than 40 countries to meet and discover the latest international innovation in e-learning (simulations, interactive video, serious games, skills and management applications, contents tools development, social learning, mobile learning...).

The show confirms its positioning as the most important European reference n°1 event in France in the field of the technologies at the service of learning.

Access to the show is free.

See more about it

South African university to host student exercise in WTO dispute settlement

Mon, 09 Sep 2013 16:20:38 GMT

by Vijeany Manguila.

The University of Witwatersrand, South Africa has been selected to host the African regional round of the 2013-2014 ELSA Moot Court Competition on WTO Law, WTO Deputy Director-General Valentine Rugwabiza announced on 30 August 2013.

Go to WTO's website

E-Learning courses on green economy

Wed, 04 Sep 2013 16:25:50 GMT

by Vijeany Manguila.

28 August 2013,Geneva,Switzerland The concept of a green economy enjoys increasing international attention, as countries explore new patterns of developement taking into account economic, social and environmental sustainability considerations.

for more information click here

Tutored ITC Market Analysis Training

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:00:46 GMT

by Raphael Dard.

Training in Sri Lanka -2013- Training starts on Tuesday 24 September at 8:30am.
Training in Nepal -2013- Training started on Wednesday 17 July at 8:30am.

ITC AND CCI-FRANCE SIGN MOU

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:39:13 GMT

by Raphael Dard.

The International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie France (CCI France) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations in relation to provision of trade-related technical assistance to developing and least developed countries.
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