Experience and Capabilities in Developing Appropriate Learning Systems Using Information and Communication Technology
World Education (WE) is a private voluntary organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, that works in over 30 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, and maintains field offices in 13 countries. WE also has a long-standing program in the United States and generates synergy between its domestic and international programs.
WE's programs are targeted to out-of-school youth and adults, as well as in-school youth, and are based on nonformal education approaches. WE develops long term working relationships and partnerships with government ministries, intermediary partners and beneficiary groups. WE specializes in developing (with end user participation) field based curricula, educational technology, and training programs in a variety of technical areas. WE programs include an improved governance and institutional strengthening component to ensure long term sustainability of service delivery.
World Education has in-house expertise in using information technology to improve instruction and to develop learning materials for adult education programs. From 1997-2000, WE served as one of four regional technology hubs for adult education in the U.S. established by the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL), serving states in the U.S. Department of Education's Region One. WE has designed and facilitated dozens of training programs on using the Internet in adult education in the U.S. WE has developed a project-based training model which is designed to address the specific needs, interests, and goals of practitioners. WE has also managed several training and grant programs designed to assist teachers and learners in the field to design their own high-interest, easy to read Web-based materials. The director of these projects has over seven years of experience in both the public and private sector in Web site design and management. WE currently maintains several Web sites for adult education teachers, including NIFL's special Web-based collection of literacy and health information.
WE is also the home of the Central Resource Center for the Massachusetts' System for Adult Basic Education Support (SABES). SABES provides training and technical assistance to Massachusetts adult literacy programs, supports field research, and publishes materials for practitioners. The SABES Technology Team Coordinator, based at WE, leads a team of five Regional Technology Coordinators supporting ABE/ESOL programs and staff in expanding their use of technology for teaching, learning, and program management. The Technology Team Coordinator has seven years of experience in organizational development, technical support, and program planning for community technology centers in the U.S.
