International Cooperation in Educational Technology We have had detailed discussions in this symposium on the various tools of educational technology in the teaching of chemistry. Some of the materials like films and TV programs produced professionally are expensive while the tools like CAI may he beyond the reach of many institutions and countries. The problems of developing countries in the field of educational technology are acute indeed and in most instances they may be limited to the use of the very simplest tools?-3 The gap between the advanced and the developing countries is increasing every day. One message that clearly comes out of the discussions in the Symposium is the need for cooperation amongst nations. Such coopera-
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tion will not merely encourage &d popularize the use of the tools of educational technology, but may even render this a profitable enterprise and provide a better perspective for individual efforts. I shall now highlight some of the important aspects of international cooperation. We should also note that some important recommendations have been made by the International Congress on the bprovement of Chemical Education, Wroclaw, Poland (1973) with regard to international cooperation in educational t e c h n o l ~ g y . ~ Much of the material produced today (particularly films and TV programs) are mainly for local use in a university or a region or sometimes luckily in a country. When such
Volume 53. Number 5. May 1976 1 295
materials are produced professionally, the costs increase considerablv. However. if such materials are made readilv available toUusersin different countries as well, the cost can be brought down. In fact, the entire economics of producing educational material will change if the production of material is planned on the basis of a wider market. This aspect has to be explored. While language would be a limitation to such efforts. to beein with. sharine of materials bv countries with a eo'mmonulangu~efor i'strudion should be initiated. It should also be oossible to olan the oroduction of some material in a manner that would permit easy translation to other languages. Developing countries cannot possibly produce all the films and other materials needed by them on their own. However, if they are permitted to reprint films or copy cassettes and videotapes based on some reasonable fees mntually agreed to, it will be of great help to these countries. Translation rights should also be given so that suitable sub-titles or dubbing into the local language becomes possible. Countries like India which are large and have several laneuaees will immenselv benefit if such relativelv free accesE tournaterials becomes possible. I t is only through such media that students in the develooina countries can -eet exposed to some great teachers of chemkry. In general, the copyright problems are quite severe.= Those who produce educational materials should be hroadminded enough to see that their work is beneficial to a larger audience in the world. As mentioned earlier, the enterprise may indeed become commercially viable if the worldwide market (including developing countries) is properly surveyed and appropriate concessions given to users denendine on circumstances. ~ h i G copyright problems may be difficult to solve rightawav. - . it should be oossihle for us educators to exchanee materials amongst ourselves without much difficulty. For examole. slides and transoarencies can be easilv transferred frbm place to place dithout much language problem. I feel that those of us who participated in this symposium
'See articles bv Guerrero. ~,A. H.. and Mehrotra. ~.R. C.. "Eduea- ' tional Technology in the Teaching of Chemistry,'. (Editor: Rao, C . N. R.), IUPAC, Oxford, 1975. 2Rao, C. N. R., in "New Trends in Chemistry Teaching,'. Vol. IV, The UNESCO Press, Paris, 1975. 'Rao, C. N. R., International Newsletter on Chemical Edueotion (IUPAC),2,8 (1975). 4Parry,R. W., in "New Trends in Chemistry Teaching,'. Vol. IV, The UNESCO Press, Paris, 1975. ~~
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could make a good heginning in this direction. The International Newsletter on Chemical Education would be happy to make appropriate announcements in this connection. I t would be very useful if UNESCO could organize an international center or clearine" house for educational techn o l ~ g y UNESCOfiUPAC .~ could also arrange to bring out oeriodical oublications on develonments in educational technology in various countries. The International Center, when established. could soonsor oroduction of materials which would become univ&sally available. For example, a oackage of core lessons on the orincioles of chemistry through slides or films can be thought of.. As mentioned earlier, educational technology is hardly making a beginning in developing countries. In many of the countries, the blackboard is the only device available. Even oroiectors and cassettes are not easilv available to schools and colleges. Computers are out of the reach of most of the institutions in developing countries. I t appears that much research and development in educational technology suited to the needs of developing countries is yet to be carried out;3 advanced countries could contribute to this effort significantly. UNESCO should make advisory services available to initiate and strengthen use of appropriate educational technolow in develooing c o u n t r i e ~For . ~ examole. i t would be good to train large numbers of science teachkrs in developing countries to write programmed lessons suitable to their countries. Programmed lessons can, in principle, be written on blackboards or posted on notice board^.^ Production of simple tools like super 8mm projectors and so on in developing countries should be supported (by suitable technolow transfer). Use of oroerammable calculators (in placeof &nputers)could be p o p h a r i ~ e d . ~ , ~ Satellite broadcasting has been initiated in some of the developing countries mainly for the purpose of comm"nity education. Both national and international efforts would be necessary to see that chemical education through this medium becomes e f f e c t i ~ e . ~ The IUPAC Committee on the Teaching of Chemistry would be happy to do whatever it can to initiate; encourage, and promote interoationid cooperation in educational technology as well as other spheres.' C. N. R. Rao Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India
