Boletín Informativo

INELAM: 2004 Prize and Recognitions

Within the framework of the V International Event on Education, Professional Training and New Technologies, Virtual Educa 2004, held in Barcelona, Spain June on 16-18, 2004, the 2004 INELAM Prize was awarded to two initiatives: “Robotics and Learning by Design” presented by the Omar Dengo Foundation of Costa Rica and “Portable Technology in the Classroom” presented by the Pontificia Universidad Católica of Chile. In addition, the Jury agreed to bestow Honorary Mentions to three other initiatives: “Red TELAR” (All in the Network) of Argentina; “Digital Geotechnologies at the Secondary Level” of the Universidade do Vale do Paraiba (UNIVAP) Brazil; and “Virtual School” of Caldas, Colombia.

As in years past, special recognitions were also made: the first in the area of Social Responsibility was awarded to the Provincial Council of Bizcaya and REDOX for their initiative “DEMA Virtual Campus”; the second, for Corporate Social Responsibility, was awarded to Intel Argentina for its project “Education for the Future”; and the third, in the area of Educational Quality, was presented to Dr. Gabriel Ferraté Pascual, President of the Open University of Catalunya for his significant contributions to the development and strengthening of the knowledge society through virtual "metacampuses".

http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/tema/editorial/jul04.aspx?culture=en&tabindex=36&childindex=0

Support for a New Portal: Colombia Learns

In an effort to support Colombia in the launching of its new Portal “Colombia Learns”, the IACD/OAS has informed the Minister of National Education, Doctor Cecilia María Vélez White, that it will donate 350 complete scholarships for the online course “Quality in Basic Education” that is offered through the Institute for Advanced Studies of the Americas (INEAM) and its Educational Portal of the Americas. It is expected that the details regarding this offer will be finalized later this month.

http://www.colombiaaprende.edu.co

Working Meeting with OUI

The Second Coordination meeting between the IACD/OAS and the OUI will take place July 19-23 in order to: a) identify and define the role of both institutions in their respective strategic plans; b) become familiar with the guidelines and procedures of the OUI and the role the IACD could play in them; c) identify inter-American or hemispheric activities in which both organizations could participate; d) define specific activities of an inter-institutional nature; and e) formulate an Action Plan for 2004-2005. The meeting will take place at OUI headquarters in Quebec City, Canada.

http://www.oui-iohe.qc.ca/

ICTs in Action: Cordoba, Argentina

The Ministry of Health of the Province of Cordoba, Argentina, will train 300 social workers, educators, psychologists and other health professionals through the Educational Portal of the Americas in the online course “Educación Alimentaria”. The course presents key concepts of nutrition with a view to treating the problem of malnourishment in infants and youth, as well as creating a group of specialists that can act as multipliers of change in their community and ensure that the urgent nutritional needs of society are met, particularly in the more vulnerable areas. The course focuses on education and prevention to resolve the nutrition situation in the region, with emphasis on the school setting, and is designed in such a way that its contents can be adapted to the needs of each local health establishment or institution.

Publication: Electronic Governent Experiences in Latin America

The IACD/OAS and the Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales de Chile (FLACSO-Chile), published the book América Latina Puntogob, casos y tendencias en gobierno electrónico (edited by Rodrigo Araya and Miguel Porrúa), which presents an overview of the process of modernization of public administration in Latin America, as well as a reflection on the changes that have taken place due to the introduction of information and communication technologies. The publication hopes to inspire analysis and reflection on the road traveled through a comprehensive review of Latin America’s insertion in the Knowledge Society through Electronic Government. The book suggests possibilities for learning based on successful experiences as well as errors, and offers a summary of strategies and recommendations for advancement in the field.

The book, a joint effort between FLACSO-Chile and the IACD/OAS that reaffirms the commitment of both institutions to the field of electronic government, is intended as a tool to support the governments of the region in their efforts to modernize and increase transparency. In its Introduction, the IACD/OAS underscores the belief that Electronic Government is the key to fulfilling the challenge of transparency and efficiency in the public sector, facilitating citizen access to these services, stimulating economic activity, and promoting economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Click here to access additional information.

INEAM News

Dr. Álvaro Galvis Panqueva has been invited to organize INEAM’s Technological Committee. He holds an Engineering degree in Systems and Computing from the Universidad de Los Andes (Bogota, Colombia), and a Masters and PhD in Adult Education from Penn State University (USA). He is currently a researcher at the Concord Consortium in Concord, MA, where he directs the project Seeing Math for the professional development of math teachers. In addition, he is director of Metacursos, the Spanish division of Metacourse, an initiative to help create and moderate virtual learning environments. He was formerly professor of the Department of Systems Engineering and Computers of the Universidad de Los Andrés until mid 2000. For 15 years he was founder and director of the Research and Development Laboratory on Informatics in Education (UNIANDES-LIDIE). One of his projects, Ludomática, was awarded the Global Bangemann prize in 1999 by the Mayor of Stockholm for its use of technology with a social impact. He was also Founder and Director of the “Journal of Educational Informatics” of the Universidad de los Andes for 13 years. As a result of his research and publications on interactive and virtual learning environments, he has received numerous invitations to participate in international meetings. In addition he has served as a consultant and specialist with the OAS, IDB, UNESCO and the World Bank throughout Central and South America.

First CONEVARES Meeting

The first meeting of the Inter-American Committee on Evaluation, Accreditation and Recognition of Higher Education (CONEVARES) of INEAM was held at the Universidad Pompeu Fabra, in Barcelona, Spain on June 14 and 15. The group studied and worked on the activities set forth in its work plan, prepared recommendations and guidelines, and elected its President, Lic. Ernesto Villanueva of Argentina, who is President of the National Commission for University Evaluation and Accreditation of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of that country. The meeting was joined by two invited guest, the President of CREAD (Inter-American Consortium for Distance Education), Patricia Ávila Muñoz, and Dr. Álvaro Galvis Panqueva, Chair of the Technological Committee of INEAM.

See Agenda

V International Event: Virtual Educa

The V International Event on Education, Professional Training and New Technologies, Virtual Educa 2004 was held in Barcelona, Spain within the framework of the Universal Forum of Cultures. Over 1,200 people from all of the OAS member states and the European Union participated in the event’s numerous seminars, workshops and meetings. In addition, during the course of the event, the participants established the International Association Virtual Educa (ASIVE), approved its Statutes and elected as its President Dr. Jorge Werthein, Director of UNESCO in Brazil.

ICTs Applied to Higher Education: Inter-American Seminar

The Third Seminar on Information Technologies for Higher Education, organized by the IACD/OAS and the Inter-American Organization for Higher Education (IOHE), was held at the Universidad de Barcelona on June 14-15 and was attended by 35 scholarship recipients and invited guests from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico and Spain. Organized in four different modules, the Seminar highlighted the impact of ICTs on higher education and emphasized projections for the future regarding new methods of learning as well as innovations that must be implemented for institutional management. The Seminar was organized and coordinated by Dr. Ernesto G. Arias, Associate Director, Center for Lifelong Learning and Design, University of Colorado at Boulder, USA; Dr. Mónica G. Luque, Academic Coordinator of INEAM of the IACD/OAS; and Dr. Ramón Parra Loera, Director of Information Technologies of the Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico.

http://www.educoea.org/portal/docs/III_SEMINARIO.doc

Virtual Educa 2005

The first working meeting to discuss the VI International Conference on Education, Professional Training and New Technologies, Virtual Educa 2005 (which will be held in Mexico) will take place on September 1-3 at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). The working group will be chaired by Rosaura Ruiz Gutiérrez (UNAM) and composed of Carlos E. Paldao (IACD/OAS), Araceli Maciá (AISED/UNED), Diana Cecilia Ortega Arnieva (ANUIES), Patricia Ávila Muñoz (CREAD), Patricia Gudiño Fernández (OUI), Jorge Peralta Álvarez (UDUAL), Rina Martínez Romero (UNAM), Jorge Werthein (UNESCO) and José María Antón (Virtual Educa).

http://www.unam.mx

Ethics, Social Capital and Development: IDB and OAS in Action

The Inter-American Development Bank, through its inter-American initiative “Social Capital, Ethics and Development” and the OAS, through its Institute of Advanced Studies for the Americas (INEAM) are launching an online course “How Should Ethics, Social Capital and Development be Taught in the University?” The course, which will be offered in September, aspires to promote an awareness of ethics, social capital and development in the university academic environment by training teachers who can further this concept, not only in their daily work in the classroom, but also in their organization’s strategies for Social Responsibility. The 10-week course will be offered under the academic supervision of specialized tutors. Upon completion of the course it is hoped that each participant will be able to design and develop the dynamics necessary to promote ethics, social capital and development in their own institution, and understand the theoretical and methodological elements necessary for delivering a course of this nature.

We appreciate your interest and participation in the activities of the Educational Portal of the Americas. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. Please send all messages to portal@oas.org. If you have received this message in error and would like to cancel your free subscription, please send a message to portal@oas.org and include "Cancel Newsletter Subscription" in the subject window.



	*Click here to see previous Newsletters*
	July News: INELAM: 2004 Prize and Recognitions Support for a New Portal: Colombia Learns Working Meeting with OUI ICTs in Action: Cordoba, Argentina Publication: Electronic Governent Experiences in Latin America INEAM News First CONEVARES Meeting V International Event: Virtual Educa ICTs Applied to Higher Education: Inter-American Seminar Virtual Educa 2005 Ethics, Social Capital and Development: IDB and OAS in Action
	INELAM: 2004 Prize and Recognitions Within the framework of the V International Event on Education, Professional Training and New Technologies, Virtual Educa 2004, held in Barcelona, Spain June on 16-18, 2004, the 2004 INELAM Prize was awarded to two initiatives: “Robotics and Learning by Design” presented by the Omar Dengo Foundation of Costa Rica and “Portable Technology in the Classroom” presented by the Pontificia Universidad Católica of Chile. In addition, the Jury agreed to bestow Honorary Mentions to three other initiatives: “Red TELAR” (All in the Network) of Argentina; “Digital Geotechnologies at the Secondary Level” of the Universidade do Vale do Paraiba (UNIVAP) Brazil; and “Virtual School” of Caldas, Colombia. As in years past, special recognitions were also made: the first in the area of Social Responsibility was awarded to the Provincial Council of Bizcaya and REDOX for their initiative “DEMA Virtual Campus”; the second, for Corporate Social Responsibility, was awarded to Intel Argentina for its project “Education for the Future”; and the third, in the area of Educational Quality, was presented to Dr. Gabriel Ferraté Pascual, President of the Open University of Catalunya for his significant contributions to the development and strengthening of the knowledge society through virtual "metacampuses". http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/tema/editorial/jul04.aspx?culture=en&tabindex=36&childindex=0 Support for a New Portal: Colombia Learns In an effort to support Colombia in the launching of its new Portal “Colombia Learns”, the IACD/OAS has informed the Minister of National Education, Doctor Cecilia María Vélez White, that it will donate 350 complete scholarships for the online course “Quality in Basic Education” that is offered through the Institute for Advanced Studies of the Americas (INEAM) and its Educational Portal of the Americas. It is expected that the details regarding this offer will be finalized later this month. http://www.colombiaaprende.edu.co Working Meeting with OUI The Second Coordination meeting between the IACD/OAS and the OUI will take place July 19-23 in order to: a) identify and define the role of both institutions in their respective strategic plans; b) become familiar with the guidelines and procedures of the OUI and the role the IACD could play in them; c) identify inter-American or hemispheric activities in which both organizations could participate; d) define specific activities of an inter-institutional nature; and e) formulate an Action Plan for 2004-2005. The meeting will take place at OUI headquarters in Quebec City, Canada. http://www.oui-iohe.qc.ca/ ICTs in Action: Cordoba, Argentina The Ministry of Health of the Province of Cordoba, Argentina, will train 300 social workers, educators, psychologists and other health professionals through the Educational Portal of the Americas in the online course “Educación Alimentaria”. The course presents key concepts of nutrition with a view to treating the problem of malnourishment in infants and youth, as well as creating a group of specialists that can act as multipliers of change in their community and ensure that the urgent nutritional needs of society are met, particularly in the more vulnerable areas. The course focuses on education and prevention to resolve the nutrition situation in the region, with emphasis on the school setting, and is designed in such a way that its contents can be adapted to the needs of each local health establishment or institution. Publication: Electronic Governent Experiences in Latin America The IACD/OAS and the Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales de Chile (FLACSO-Chile), published the book América Latina Puntogob, casos y tendencias en gobierno electrónico (edited by Rodrigo Araya and Miguel Porrúa), which presents an overview of the process of modernization of public administration in Latin America, as well as a reflection on the changes that have taken place due to the introduction of information and communication technologies. The publication hopes to inspire analysis and reflection on the road traveled through a comprehensive review of Latin America’s insertion in the Knowledge Society through Electronic Government. The book suggests possibilities for learning based on successful experiences as well as errors, and offers a summary of strategies and recommendations for advancement in the field. The book, a joint effort between FLACSO-Chile and the IACD/OAS that reaffirms the commitment of both institutions to the field of electronic government, is intended as a tool to support the governments of the region in their efforts to modernize and increase transparency. In its Introduction, the IACD/OAS underscores the belief that Electronic Government is the key to fulfilling the challenge of transparency and efficiency in the public sector, facilitating citizen access to these services, stimulating economic activity, and promoting economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Click here to access additional information. INEAM News Dr. Álvaro Galvis Panqueva has been invited to organize INEAM’s Technological Committee. He holds an Engineering degree in Systems and Computing from the Universidad de Los Andes (Bogota, Colombia), and a Masters and PhD in Adult Education from Penn State University (USA). He is currently a researcher at the Concord Consortium in Concord, MA, where he directs the project Seeing Math for the professional development of math teachers. In addition, he is director of Metacursos, the Spanish division of Metacourse, an initiative to help create and moderate virtual learning environments. He was formerly professor of the Department of Systems Engineering and Computers of the Universidad de Los Andrés until mid 2000. For 15 years he was founder and director of the Research and Development Laboratory on Informatics in Education (UNIANDES-LIDIE). One of his projects, Ludomática, was awarded the Global Bangemann prize in 1999 by the Mayor of Stockholm for its use of technology with a social impact. He was also Founder and Director of the “Journal of Educational Informatics” of the Universidad de los Andes for 13 years. As a result of his research and publications on interactive and virtual learning environments, he has received numerous invitations to participate in international meetings. In addition he has served as a consultant and specialist with the OAS, IDB, UNESCO and the World Bank throughout Central and South America. First CONEVARES Meeting The first meeting of the Inter-American Committee on Evaluation, Accreditation and Recognition of Higher Education (CONEVARES) of INEAM was held at the Universidad Pompeu Fabra, in Barcelona, Spain on June 14 and 15. The group studied and worked on the activities set forth in its work plan, prepared recommendations and guidelines, and elected its President, Lic. Ernesto Villanueva of Argentina, who is President of the National Commission for University Evaluation and Accreditation of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of that country. The meeting was joined by two invited guest, the President of CREAD (Inter-American Consortium for Distance Education), Patricia Ávila Muñoz, and Dr. Álvaro Galvis Panqueva, Chair of the Technological Committee of INEAM. See Agenda V International Event: Virtual Educa The V International Event on Education, Professional Training and New Technologies, Virtual Educa 2004 was held in Barcelona, Spain within the framework of the Universal Forum of Cultures. Over 1,200 people from all of the OAS member states and the European Union participated in the event’s numerous seminars, workshops and meetings. In addition, during the course of the event, the participants established the International Association Virtual Educa (ASIVE), approved its Statutes and elected as its President Dr. Jorge Werthein, Director of UNESCO in Brazil. ICTs Applied to Higher Education: Inter-American Seminar The Third Seminar on Information Technologies for Higher Education, organized by the IACD/OAS and the Inter-American Organization for Higher Education (IOHE), was held at the Universidad de Barcelona on June 14-15 and was attended by 35 scholarship recipients and invited guests from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico and Spain. Organized in four different modules, the Seminar highlighted the impact of ICTs on higher education and emphasized projections for the future regarding new methods of learning as well as innovations that must be implemented for institutional management. The Seminar was organized and coordinated by Dr. Ernesto G. Arias, Associate Director, Center for Lifelong Learning and Design, University of Colorado at Boulder, USA; Dr. Mónica G. Luque, Academic Coordinator of INEAM of the IACD/OAS; and Dr. Ramón Parra Loera, Director of Information Technologies of the Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico. http://www.educoea.org/portal/docs/III_SEMINARIO.doc Virtual Educa 2005 The first working meeting to discuss the VI International Conference on Education, Professional Training and New Technologies, Virtual Educa 2005 (which will be held in Mexico) will take place on September 1-3 at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). The working group will be chaired by Rosaura Ruiz Gutiérrez (UNAM) and composed of Carlos E. Paldao (IACD/OAS), Araceli Maciá (AISED/UNED), Diana Cecilia Ortega Arnieva (ANUIES), Patricia Ávila Muñoz (CREAD), Patricia Gudiño Fernández (OUI), Jorge Peralta Álvarez (UDUAL), Rina Martínez Romero (UNAM), Jorge Werthein (UNESCO) and José María Antón (Virtual Educa). http://www.unam.mx Ethics, Social Capital and Development: IDB and OAS in Action The Inter-American Development Bank, through its inter-American initiative “Social Capital, Ethics and Development” and the OAS, through its Institute of Advanced Studies for the Americas (INEAM) are launching an online course “How Should Ethics, Social Capital and Development be Taught in the University?” The course, which will be offered in September, aspires to promote an awareness of ethics, social capital and development in the university academic environment by training teachers who can further this concept, not only in their daily work in the classroom, but also in their organization’s strategies for Social Responsibility. The 10-week course will be offered under the academic supervision of specialized tutors. Upon completion of the course it is hoped that each participant will be able to design and develop the dynamics necessary to promote ethics, social capital and development in their own institution, and understand the theoretical and methodological elements necessary for delivering a course of this nature. We appreciate your interest and participation in the activities of the Educational Portal of the Americas. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. Please send all messages to portal@oas.org. If you have received this message in error and would like to cancel your free subscription, please send a message to portal@oas.org and include "Cancel Newsletter Subscription" in the subject window.