Vizualization complexity

Gapminder is a classical example how new technology makes learning better: The topic is easy to understand and interactive. It created interest for the subject, invites for further thinking and creating connection. One got a willingness to start searching and looking for more relations. (competitivness? Kazakhstan's labout force?). It is scintific-based (best available statistics).
Gapminder is an example how technology creates a new benchmakark. It is, finally, in Russian! Please, spread the word!

Discussion at "The Economist" (The search of smart concepts 2)

The economist started its first(!) online discussion with the following statement: This house believes the continuing introduction of new technologies and new media addes little to the quality of most education.

The results are sumarized in the picture. Most probably, if England, which has a leading position in E-Learning, comes up with these statement and results, the issue for an emergent economy like Kazakhstan is a clear yes. However, the discussion and the arguments are - to my knowledge - the richest resources for arguing and thinking on the issue.

The following statements seem me important:

• “The practical task facing ministers of education is to expand access to quality education as economically as possible. They want the same outcomes as Adam Smith's pin factory: higher volume, consistent quality, lower cost.”

• “Technology has underperformed because it is usually applied to help the teacher teach rather than to help the learner learn. The successful examples of technology involve the creation of learning systems that create a rich environment around the learner. Too often technology is simply used to pretty up teaching yet, as many contributors have noted, technology may increase the reach of a poor teacher but it will not improve the quality of their teaching.”

The limiting factor is education system and educational paradigm. This is true in developing countries; this is even truer in countries with less resources, capacities and experience for innovation.

1. Technology should clearly point what should be improved “instead of a vague assumption that technology will enhance teaching.”

2. Technology is better used to create new learning systems.

3. There is a quest for the magic medium, the ultimate technology that will revolutionize education. The task is to use them to create a world where education of quality is abundantly available. (The proposition's opening remarks).

As for now, examples prove that technology can ensure a quantum leap, but these examples are much limited to generalize and to make policy recommendation. The search continues…

Overview E-Learning tools

This overview has become - as far as I am able to watch - a "should know about " in the global E-Learning community. Indeed, it provides much-needed guidance in a complex and extremely dynamic E-Learning market Furthermore, I like:
* a lot of solutions do support Russian langauge
* google is a main provider of cost-free and highly efficient E-Learning solution (thus the seminar as offered of the project on Online cooperation and communication). Communities like Kazakhstan, which do not generate much income from ads, do benefit from them.
* Work and learning is more and more integrated.
Kazakh E-learning experts: join this global community!

The power of facts: and what?

I participated at a conference at the West-Kazakhstan Agriculture Technical University in Uralsk with my standard presentation about the challenges we are facing. The perception seemed to be nice. The next question is - as asked by Mr. Anderson from AMEC: so what? We understand that there is a challenge. The world around is moving faster and faster. We do not mind to participate. But how? Mr. Anderson asks for smart solutions. But even smart solutions need money, an infrastructure, management capacity etc. There should be an active response