Division Details

OVERVIEW

The Distance Learning Secretariat is involved in re-engineering and connecting Learning Access and Human Development to support the development of a Lifelong Learning System in Trinidad and Tobago. The Secretariat is responsible for ensuring the development and implementation of strategies related to distance learning namely:

Developing standards for Open, Flexible, Distributed and Distance Learning among all Tertiary Level Institutions and other learning providers in the country.

Promoting awareness of new and emerging knowledge and learning technologies among stakeholders and the public.

Advise government and international agencies on issues related to new and emerging knowledge and learning technologies.

Assisting in building and strengthening learning providers to broaden and increase access to learning through technological mediation.

Promoting human resource development as well as the professional development of educators in distance learning.

Building relationships and developing linkages through collaboration with local, regional & international professional bodies, agencies and institutions involved in distance learning.

Distance Learning Projects

A critical output of the DLS strategic plan is the creation of an Information and Communication Technologies(ICT)framework to drive and sustain research and education at the tertiary level. Current projects leading towards this outcome include:
.The creation of a National Knowledge and Learning Network (NKLN) to connect learners and to foster the sharing of resources and expertise for capacity building and programme development for the on-line environment. This project also involves the development of a National Knowledge and Learning Portal as an key entry point to the NKLN from the Internet.
.The Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network (CKLN) a regional project which aims to provide opportunity for the free flow of high quality learning opportunities for the people of the Caribbean Region. To achieve this vision, CKLN intends to leverage information and communications technology (ICT) and modern approaches to education to overcome constraints of remoteness and scale in tertiary education.
Read More … www.ckln.net
.The Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC), a mechanism for pooling existing structures and capacities in all the small states of the Commonwealth enabled by appropriate ICT applications to facilitate collaboration in practical ways to plan programmes, develop the required content and ensure the delivery of those programmes and support services to learners.
Read More … www.col.org/vussc

The Distance Learning Secretariat also pioneers certain achievements in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in both the formal and non-formal tertiary education sector under the Éclair initiative. The Electronic Collaboration for Learning Access, Information and Research (E.C.L.A.I.R.) initiative has been developed by the Secretariat to infuse STIs into the capacity building initiatives of local faculty by increasing:

familiarity and competencies with ICTs
alternative learning paths and creative dynamics with respect to core content of curricula.
involvement and efforts in the production and generation of ODL resources for an eventual national online repository.

The MMS Podcasting in your nets pilot is currently being considered as a project under the Éclair initiative. Other pilots have included: Destiny X- An interactive video game for LifeSkills; Money Worries - A guide to online lesson planning for Financial Life Skills.

For more current and up-to-date information and access to the DLS digital library, you can visit the DLS Webspace.

Contact Us at:
Distance Learning Secretariat
First Floor
Ministry of Science,
Technology and Tertiary Education
Corner Agra and Patna Streets
St. James
Trinidad and Tobago W.I.
Tel: (868) 622-9922 Ext. 102, 103, 137, 439
Fax: (868) 628-4982
Email: dls_mstte@gov.tt