Community Media/COL

The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is an intergovernmental organisation created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning/distance education knowledge, resources and technologies. COL is helping developing nations improve access to quality education and training. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, COL is the world's only intergovernmental organisation dedicated solely to promoting and delivering distance education and open learning, and is the only official Commonwealth agency located outside Britain.

COL and its international network of partner organisations have helped the Commonwealth's 53 member nations and their citizens realise widespread access to quality, current education and training for over 15 years. Fully operational since 1989, COL is financially supported by Commonwealth governments on a voluntary basis. It responds to Commonwealth needs through in-country and regional programmes and initiatives, as well as fee-for-service consulting for international agencies and national governments.

COL's focus is learning for development. Community media are a critical part of local level learning -- about livelihoods, health, governance and organization; in short, community development. COL's focus is to help build the capacity of communities to use media, to support innovations that make community media more effective, and to advocate for community media as critical learning vehicles.

Programmes & Initiatives

 * Media for Learning
 * Workshop Planning Process
 * Focus Areas
 * Concept Papers

List of Educational Resources

 * Media & ICT Workshop Planning Guide

Knowledge Series
The Knowledge Series is a topical, start-up guide to distance education practice and delivery. New titles are published each year.

THE SERIES IS AVAILABLE through the links in up to three formats: HTML web pages, downloadable Acrobat PDF files, and eBook PDB files.

This series is aimed at education professionals relatively new to distance education, with content just detailed enough for introductory use by and for trainers - whether educational, vocational or corporate. The expert-authored, ongoing series is a succinct, topic-by-topic overview of distance education theory and practice. With a reader-friendly approach, Knowledge Series titles are limited to six pages each, with print versions presented in a foldout format. Each title includes a bibliography and a further reading list.

In addition to being available on this web site, single copies of Knowledge Series titles are available at no charge, with the proviso that the contents are used or reproduced for non-commercial purposes and with acknowledgement to the author and to COL. For print or CD-ROM copies, please contact The Commonwealth of Learning at info@col.org. The Knowledge Series is also generally available through COL-affiliated projects and institutions.

Selected Titles from COL

 * COL Website Search Engine
 * Also, visit: http://www.col.org/colweb/site/pid/3129

Please download the following educational materials in PDF format:


 * Adapting Learning Materials for Distance Learning
 * Mobile Learning in Developing Countries
 * Using Community Radio for Non-Formal Education
 * Using Information and Communications Technology for Agricultural Extension (PDF)
 * Using Telecentres in Support of Distance Education
 * Support Groups in Distance Education

=Partnering and Working with COL=

Consultancies
Current consultancies

Progarmme partners
Planning meeting: October 2009

Documentation
Perspectives on Using Media for Learning

Photo tips Community Learning Programmes