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STRATEGIES FOR KNOWLEDGE UPDATE AND CONTINUOUS EDUCATIONOF IT PROFESSIONALS. By Professor Charles O. Uwadia,FNCS couwadia@unilag.edu.ng , couwadia@yahoo.com A Paper presented at the 2014 Information Technology Professionals’ Assembly. Outline of Presentation.
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STRATEGIES FOR KNOWLEDGE UPDATE AND CONTINUOUS EDUCATIONOF IT PROFESSIONALS By Professor Charles O. Uwadia,FNCS couwadia@unilag.edu.ng, couwadia@yahoo.com A Paper 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