GRANT TO STRENGTHEN THE CAPABILITY OF FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY TO SUPPORT A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY FOR THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES THROUGH AN INTERNATIONAL CENTER

PROJECT COMPONENTS INCLUDE: 1)ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY (CET) FOCUSING ON PROBLEMS OF LDCS;2)DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMS APPROACHES TO USE OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY FOR EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS,WHICH ASSESS NEEDS,ANALYZE RESOURCES & SUGGEST ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS;3)CONDUCTING OF US-PARTICIPANT TRAINING IN SYSTEMS APPROACHES AT CET FOR STUDENTS AND PLANNERS FROM LDCS;AND 4)ESTABLISHMENT OF CONTACTS WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES CONCERNED WITH EDUCATION. PROJECT IS EXTENDED FOR 2 YEARS AND WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN 3 PHASES. THE FOCUS WILL BE ON RELATIVELY LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES (RLDCS). THE EXTENDED PROJECT"S COMPONENTS INCLUDE: 1)A SEARCH OF RELEVANT LITERATURE,CONTACTS WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS,AN AUDIO-VISUAL PRESENTATION OF FSU"S CAPABILITIES,AND MEETINGS WITH AID/W AND MISSION STAFF TO IDENTIFY 7 OR 8 POTENTIAL RLDCS TO WORK WITH; 2)A VISIT OF THESE COUNTRIES TO SELECT 2 OR 3 RLDCS; AND 3)6-12 WEEK WORKSHOPS IN THE SELECTED RLDCS. THE WORKSHOPS WILL DEAL WITH EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS RELEVANT TO THE RLDCS,AND WILL TRAIN PLANNERS AND TECHNICIANS IN SYSTEMS APPROACHES TO THE USE OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY. WORKSHOPS WILL BE FOLLOWED UP FOR 3 MONTHS WITH CONSULTATION,AND FSU WILL CONDUCT A SEMINAR ON ITS CAMPUS TO DISSEMINATE RESULTS. HOST COUNTRIES PROVIDE PERSONNEL FOR TRAINING,FACILITIES FOR WORKSHOPS,AND COSTS OF TRAINING WHEN ABLE TO. AID CONDUCTS A REVIEW OF PROJECT AFTER 4 YEARS. PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES ARE THE RURAL AND URBAN POOR,AND WOMEN, AND THE TRAINED PLANNERS AND STUDENTS OF THE LDCSALSO BENEFIT. A RELATED PROJECT IS AID"S FUNDING TO STANFORD UNIVERSITY"S INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNICATION RESEARCH. THIS FUNDING SUPPORTS A MASTER"S DEGREE PROGRAM TO TRAIN LDC PERSONNEL IN THE USE OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.