The Observer News No. 15 - OID / CICAD / OAS

UWI instructors learn how to prepare online course work in a computer lab in Jamaica.

Students take the fourth quarter written exam of the online Masters program in addiction studies in Asuncion, Paraguay, one of 15 testing centers .

The University of the West Indies (UWI) and CICAD are collaborating in the development of a sustainable on-line capacity-building program for drug demand reduction. The direct beneficiaries of this program will be professionals in both public and private institutions working in substance abuse-related disciplines in the Caribbean.

In order to implement the program, the UWI’s Distance Education Centre (UWIDEC) held a workshop at UWI, Mona campus, aimed at training select professionals in the use of new education technologies, October 2-5. Fourteen module providers/teachers took the course, along with seven members of the UWIDEC team. A main objective was to demonstrate how course material and activities had to be adapted to the online format and take advantage of the additional tools that online courses offer.

UWI and CICAD expect this online program to start offering classes next year, initially with UWI certificates, but eventually with full college credits. The course design will be modular with 15 units offered in 2007 and expanded by another 10 units by the following year. Subject matter is divided among epidemiology, prevention, treatment and management. The educational application is based on the open-source Moodle course management system.

Ongong programs This UWI online initiative is similar to another program that CICAD help start up, the Spanish language online International Masters in Addiction Studies. On October 28, participants took their fourth-quarter exams at designated testing centers in 15 countries, including Spain.


Inter-American Observatory on Drugs: Building a Drug Information Network with and for the Americas
No. 3, Year 4 Third Quarter 2006 Spanish Version Previous Issues Who we are Statistics National Drug Control Orgs. National Observatories International Organizations Contact OID Online Courses Span the Globe with CICAD's Support UWI instructors learn how to prepare online course work in a computer lab in Jamaica. Students take the fourth quarter written exam of the online Masters program in addiction studies in Asuncion, Paraguay, one of 15 testing centers . The University of the West Indies (UWI) and CICAD are collaborating in the development of a sustainable on-line capacity-building program for drug demand reduction. The direct beneficiaries of this program will be professionals in both public and private institutions working in substance abuse-related disciplines in the Caribbean. In order to implement the program, the UWI’s Distance Education Centre (UWIDEC) held a workshop at UWI, Mona campus, aimed at training select professionals in the use of new education technologies, October 2-5. Fourteen module providers/teachers took the course, along with seven members of the UWIDEC team. A main objective was to demonstrate how course material and activities had to be adapted to the online format and take advantage of the additional tools that online courses offer. UWI and CICAD expect this online program to start offering classes next year, initially with UWI certificates, but eventually with full college credits. The course design will be modular with 15 units offered in 2007 and expanded by another 10 units by the following year. Subject matter is divided among epidemiology, prevention, treatment and management. The educational application is based on the open-source Moodle course management system. Ongong programs This UWI online initiative is similar to another program that CICAD help start up, the Spanish language online International Masters in Addiction Studies. On October 28, participants took their fourth-quarter exams at designated testing centers in 15 countries, including Spain.
The Observer News: No. 3, Year 4, Second Quarter 2006
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Online Courses Span the Globe with CICAD's Support