Responding To The Need for Resource Materials Through Distance Education: In Pursuit of a Collaborative Model

Cherryl Stephens
Syllabus Unit, Caribbean Examinations Council

Lennox McLeod
Syllabus Unit, Caribbean Examinations Council

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     Last modified: August 15, 2006
     Presentation date: 11/02/2006 11:45 AM in ST Windsor B
     (View Schedule)

Abstract
This paper reports on a project undertaken jointly by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) to develop self-study and distance learning materials in selected subjects for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) and, to a lesser extent, the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations offered by CXC. The paper describes the collaborative and iterative process that produced materials that are highly responsive to the needs of both a population in full-time attendance at secondary schools and more mature out-of-school learners in member-countries of CXC. In developing the materials, the general principles followed by COL in developing distance materials were combined with the experience of CXC in developing syllabuses and related materials to serve the needs of its 16 member-countries taking CSEC and CAPE. The paper calls attention to how the approach that was used responded to the special circumstances of having the same materials satisfy the needs and circumstances of several countries with varying levels of resources and student performance. The paper suggests that the model may be applicable to countries or regions that have to treat with similar circumstances in seeking to increase access to both secondary and tertiary education.