Dynamic Learning for Economic Development of the Southeastern Europe

Stanko Blatnik (IPAK, Velenje, Slovenia) and Kelly Carey (West Valley College USA) 


After the Bosnian war, in academic year 1996/97, Stanko Blatnik began
teaching online courses at the University of Sarajevo. At the time, the
technical infrastructure in Bosnia and Hercegovina was poor, although
distance learning was possible. Between the 1996/97 and 2002/03 years, the
online course student count grew from 4 to 45. Experience demonstrated
that in this environment, where economic, political, and technical
problems were prevalent, it was possible to make significant progress in
education and, consequently, in economic development. Kelly Carey, working
in almost the same period in developing Asian countries, saw the internet
could bring access to learning and subsequent changes in education and
economic development. After an ODL Conference in Vienna, in 1999, Kelly
and Stanko began to develop a transnational dynamic learning model created
with open source code and available at no charge to educators. The
flexible model requires a minimal technology infrastructure and occasional
internet access. Over the past three years, Stanko and Kelly developed
several courses incorporating portions of the dynamic learning model and
materials they wrote to reflect industry-driven needs. At Sarajevo, Stanko
continued teach Computer Process Control and XML Technologies in the
Computer Science Department to graduate and postgraduate students. In
Slovenia, together with West Valley College and Praxis Development from
Silicon Valley, students studied and earned a certificate in Digital Media
Design and Production. Additionally, online case studies covering Computer
Process Control were developed in the framework of the Minerva programme.
Currently, Stanko and Kelly are completing the XML-based, open code
learning portal that incorporates XML, XHTML, SVG, and CSS. The Dynamic
Learning Portal will transition development of a network of Dynamic
Learning Centres in Southestern Europe and hopefully, as a result, support
sustainable local and regional economic development. The project results
are promising, although there are political, traditional, financial, and
cultural barriers to be overcome.