One of the most interesting questions with which the education is currently confronted, are solutions for knowledge sharing in distributed and virtual networks. One objective of the virtualization of structures in networks is the possibility to achieve a higher speed, an improved efficiency and greater flexibility and thus an improved knowledge sharing and better utilization of knowledge.
The difficulties associated with these virtual structures are its degree of impossibility of face-to-face communication and the spatially and possibly over time zones distributed actors. Communication and knowledge sharing are therefore increasingly shifted to a level of technically mediated communication, nowadays especially by means of social networks on the internet[1].
The internet is increasingly used as a meeting place for interactions. Electronic networks unite people in all areas, private, professional and in all kinds of groups of interest alike.
In Peru this use of the Internet becomes especially important regarding the huge and growing access, use and interest of the population in the Internet. According to a study released by the National Institute for Statistics and Informatics (INDEI), 22.6 percent of homes in Peru have a connection to the internet. This penetration itself is not extraordinary high. However, many people who do not have access to home internet are regular internet users. The study reports that 38.4 percent of people ages 6 and up use internet nationwide[2]. Also these numbers are expected to keep on growing significantly regarding the fact that this percentages have more than doubled in the last 10 years[3]. Interestingly, the amount of time these users spent online during the month is with 24.4 hours already slightly higher than the global average of 23.1 hours[4]. This shows big interest and a great desire of the Peruvians to use the Internet for their purposes, which makes social networks on the Internet an increasingly interesting opportunity in terms of education.
Basically there are three dimensions of the objectives of the Internet as a social network:
- The publication and distribution of information
- The communication between Internet users
- The establishment and management of relationships
In terms of education, the internet in general is used in all these dimensions, especially in terms of the fast and easy access to information. The Internet offers a vast abundance of data, facts and materials. This makes it one of the most important and certainly the most dynamic and most promising medium for education. Especially through social networks the internet also facilitates the communication between participants as well as the establishment and management of relationships between them.
The forms of learning with electronic media are innovative and versatile possible. The utilization of communications technology as method of teaching and learning varies from international study circles over e-learning for distance education, interactive platforms for social learning and website design to education through video and radio. As versatile are the benefits that are seen in e-learning, it can:
- Improve knowledge acquisition
- Reduce travel and downtime
- Motivate learners stronger than other forms of learning
- Overcome spatial and temporal restrictions
- Etc..
Due to its work with trade unionists all over the country, the organization Programa Laboral de Desarrollo (PLADES) has a keen interest to use the Internet for their education activities with trade unionists. Especially to overcome the challenges that face successful labour activity in terms of information, communication and spatial distance. It has been demonstrated that the Internet is the most powerful and effective solution for community work, political and social activists to access the accumulated knowledge of decades of labour education and research to help develop responses to the challenges facing labour and civil society[5].
The educational experience of PLADES started in 1997, when they designed and implemented a training program to strengthen municipal management as part of an agreement with other organizations. Since then many years of educational work have passed, during which the organization has gained vast experience in the implementation of classroom and distance learning systems for workers and the civil society. PLADES managed projects such as “Promoción de Derechos Laborales Fundamentales y Formación de Líderes Sindicales en el Área Andina”[6], “Fortalecimiento de capacidades de la sociedad civil sobre comercio internacional e integración”[7] and “Sistema de Formación Sindical para el Desarrollo de Capacidades para la Acción Nacional y Regional”[8] and provided technical assistance for projects like the “Centro Andino de Formación Sindical” and “Escuela de Formación Sindical a Distancia en Uruguay”. In the period 2008 – 2011 the project “Sistema de Formación para la innovación del desarrollo Sindical” was implemented. The educational work of PLADES helped:
- Strengthening the departments of education and culture of participating organizations
- Establishing a network of trade union trainers in various regions of Peru and Latin America
- Empowering grassroots leaders and workers on issues related to advocacy, management and others
- Improving the capacity of workers to the use of technologies of information and communication
Currently PLADES is running two new distance learning projects in seven regions of Peru and is leading the implementation of the project Online Labour Academy (OLA) for the International Organization of Education Workers (IFWEA).
The E-Learning platform Online Labour Academy (OLA), that was launched in 2012 by IFWEA, provides an online curricular, which can also be adapted for face-to-face workshops, for adult and labour education organizations to utilize in their education activities. Taking into account the experience in these processes, IFWEA instructed PLADES to design and create the virtual platform OLA. The platform now uses successfully communications technology to develop new methods of teaching and learning, combining international circles for distance education, interactive platforms for social learning as well as education through video and radio.
[1] Nohr, Holger: “Elektronisch vermittelte Wissenskommunikation und Medienwahl”
[5] Schroeder, Lothar and Hans-Joachim Schulz: “E-Union: Gewerkschaften im Netz”
[6] Developed in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela
[7] The project was implemented with the support of TSL Finland. Participants: Foro para la Participación Ciudadana – FOCO (Argentina); Centro de Apoyo al Desarrollo Regional – LABOR (Bolivia); Observatorio Social – CUT (Brasil); Escuela nacional Sindical – ENS (Colombia); Alianza Chilena para un Comercio Justo y Responsable – ACJR . Centro de Estudios, Asesoría y capacitación Mujer y Trabajo (Chile); Servicio Paz y Justicia – SERPAJ (Ecuador); Programa Laboral de Desarrollo – PLADES (Peru); INFOS (República Dominicana) y CILAS (Mexico)
[8] This project continues the project “Promoción de derechos laborales fundamentales y formación de líderes sindicales en el Área Andina”, extending the coverage of the training experience for the counties Argentina, Chile and Uruguay
Plades Educa 