Telecentres: case studies and key issues: management, operation, applications, evaluation

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are assuming a crucial role in the delivery of information, knowledge and education around the world. This monograph examines developments in the establishment and use of community- and information technology-based telecentres in support of education and socio-economic development. It contains 14 case studies, a number of chapters summarising the key issues, a range of information and advice on the organisation and running of telecentres, and an appendix of print and online resources. The opening chapter provides a global overview of the multipurpose community telecentre movement and discusses the key issues of ownership, management, operational models and sustainability. This is followed by a number of case studies of telecentres from countries in Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The last section is based on the experiences, insights and findings of some of the world's leading experts in telecentres in regard to evaluation, teleworking, training telecentre managers and staff, and selecting and using technology. The chapters are: Telecentres - experiences, lessons and trends / Sonja Oestmann and Andrew C. Dymond; The Western Australia Telecentre Network / Gail Short; The Queensland Open Learning Network, Australia / Anne Gooley; The Remote Community Service Telecentres of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada / Keith Sheppard; The Hungarian telecottage movement / Bill Murray; The WREN telecottage, Warwickshire, UK / David Evans; The Gaseleka telecentre, Northern Province, South Africa / Peter Benjamin; The Kitimat Community Skills Centre in British Columbia, Canada / Norbert Hartig; The AMIC@s in the Municipality of Asuncion, Paraguay / Sergio Aranda and Mary Fontaine; The Nakaseke Multipurpose Community Telecentre in Uganda / Meddie Mayanja; The pilot telecentres project in Mozambique / Polly Gaster; The DaimlerChrysler Distance Learning Support Centre in Maseru, Lesotho / Leslie Howard; Ghana's Community Learning Centres / Jonnie Akakpo and Mary Fontaine; Telelearning and telelearning centres in India / Santosh Panda and Sohanvir Chaudhary; The Acacia Programme: developing evaluation and learning systems for African telecentres / Heather E. Hudson; Telecentre evaluation: issues and strategies / Heather E. Hudson; Teleworking and telecentres / Imogen Bertin; Training telecentre managers, staff and users / Bill Murray, Cathy Murray and Simon Brooks; Telecentre technology / Mike Jensen and David Walker. Show less