Supporting a Community of Trainers

In this report Gerdien ten Cate analyses research carried out by the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) from April to July 2005, designed to identify the information needs of computer and internet trainers who provide services to development projects and organisations. In this report the trainers are referred to as ICT4D trainers, where ICT4D stands for Information and Communication Technologies for Development. An online survey and focus group discussion carried out among the trainers sought to answer the question:

“Can a Community of Practice help address the trainers’ need for continuous, easily accessible, and context-appropriate support? If yes, how should the evolution of a Community of Trainers be supported by the involved actors?”

The author reviews the key concepts surrounding Communities of Practice and presents the findings of the survey in detail. She concludes that a Community of Trainers could be a meaningful and feasible vehicle for addressing the ICT4D trainers’ challenges and needs. However, it was also recognised that success of the Community will depend on ever-changing social, cultural and economic factors. Based on the findings, the author recommends specific steps that can be taken to increase the chance of success of the Community of Trainers.

The 33-page report and the 4-page summary are available online. Printed copies are available upon request.

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