Computer assisted training in population dynamics and economic development

PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: 1. EXPANDING THE COMPUTER INSTRUCTION THROUGH THE USE OF PROGRAM LOGIC AUTOMATIC TEACHING ORGANIZATION (PLATO) SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING POPULATION VARIABLES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO SOCIO-ECONOMIC VARIABLES; 2. EXPANDING AND REFINING EXISTING COURSE MATERIALS; 3. COMPUTERIZING AND PREPARING AN ACCOMPANYING WORKBOOK. 4. INSTRUCTING PARTICIPANTS ANNUALLY FOR 1-5 DAYS FOR 5 YEARS; 5. DEVELOPING AN EVALUATIONPROGRAM TO MEASURE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE COURSE; 6. DEVELOPING A GRAPHIC PRINT-OUT SYSTEM (MULTI-FLEXING PLOTTER); 7. PREPARING A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE UNDERLYING ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC ASSUMPTIONS AND THE PROGRAMMING METHODOLOGY. AID WILL APPROVE ALL PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK ON THIS PROJECT AND MONITOR PROJECT WHICH UI ADMINISTERS. BENEFICIARIES WILL BELDC LEADERS AND PROFESSIONALS IN FAMILY PLANNING (FP) AS WELL AS LDC PARTICIPANTS. IN ADDITION, AMERICAN PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS TRAINING. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT SEVERAL THOUSAND LDC STUDENTS STUDYING IN THE US DURING ANY ONE YEAR WILL BE TRAINED IN POPULATION DYNAMICS AT UNIVERSITIES OR IN WASHINGTON, DC THROUGH COURSES INVOLVING PLATO. PROJ WAS EVAL AND APPROVED 18 MOSAFTER START BY SEPARATE TEAMS FROM PENN STATE AND BUCEN. UI IS TO SUBCONTRACT WITH OTHER UNIVERSITIES AND TEACH SUBCONTRACTOR PERSONNEL. UI RECEIVES DATA FROM THE INTERNATIONAL DEMOGRAPHIC STATISTICAL CENTER OF BUCEN. IF FEASIBLE, PLATO WILL BE INSTALLED OVERSEAS. DURING THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT, IT IS EXPECTED THAT 2500 AMERICANS AND 5000 LDC PARTICIPANTS INTHE US WILL BE TRAINED IN POP DYNAMICS.