Virtual Schools and Global Classrooms, Television Program and Video
The stagnation of productivity in conventional education has contributed to financial stress and inflationary pressure. But the increasingly knowledge-based global economy requires increased coverage, improved quality, and increased duration of education and training for individuals, firms, and countries operating in global markets. The information revolution offers the means for redesigning education to achieve these objectives. Brazil, Russia and South Africa are particularly well positioned to leapfrog into twenty-first century learning systems. This television program/video analyzes why this is so, and provides examples of programs by which these countries are seeking to realize this potential. Footage was provided by the Roberto Marinho Foundation in Brazil, Message Agency and Persona in Russia, SABC in South Africa and many other sources. The program was edited on
Electronic Media Center of the World Bank's Media 100 digital editing system.
Virtual Schools and Global Classrooms was produced by Prita Chathoth,
and Peter Knight wrote the script together with Ms. Chathoth as well as serving
as Executive Producer. Copies of the video in broadcast quality (Betacam SP) and
VHS are available from the World
Bank's Film and Video Unit (do a search on Film Library).
A companion paper, Destined to Leapfrog: Why a Revolution in Learning Will Occur in Brazil, Russia, and South Africa,
by Peter Knight, is available.
Here are a few frames from the video:
 Sailors on board a Brazilian ship participate in the Telecurso 2000 with the help of a pedagogic guide trained by the Roberto Marinho Foundation. |
Computers are already widespread in Russia and are increasingly being used for training. |
 Training is now being offered by interactive compressed digital television in South Africa. |
Satellite dishes in South Africa. |
 Egyptians study on computers at the Information and Decision Support Center in Ismailia. |
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