Training support

Mobile Library I

Responsible: Thomas Erkert

Highlights | Project Objective | Overview | Partners | HITA | Ghana | Short Facts | Report

Highlights

The project demonstrated the possibilities offered by a computer or Internet-based library.

Project goal

The lack of textbooks for students* is to be overcome by providing a virtual library that can be accessed by cell phones.

Overview

Partner

  • Ministry of Health (MOH) Accra
  • Rural Health Training School (KRHTS) in Kintampo
  • Midwifery and Health-AssistantsTraining School in Tepa
  • Nursing Training College in Jirapa
  • SWHAT Sewfi Wiawso Health Assistant School

HITA

Tasks:

1. implementation and provision of the mobile library
2. Adaptation of the system architecture to the server architecture on site
3. Adaptation of the Mobile Library to the needs of the different users
4. Conception and implementation of workshops on the use of the Mobile Library on the various mobile devices
5. Coordination of the review and support of the transfer of curricular teaching content into audio, image, video or text-based learning materials
6. Development of a train-the-trainer concept for the training of multipliers and to enable sustainable continuation
7. Technical administration of the mobile library
8. Didactic preparation of the learning materials
9. Project and process support, including monitoring, evaluation and various consulting services

Employees:

  • Thomas Erkert
  • Mirco Heise
  • Prof. Dr. Christian Johner
  • Jörg Lesch
  • Hildegard Mackert

 

Ghana

Regions:

  • Brong-Ahafo
  • Ashanti
  • Upper East
  • Upper West
  • Western
  • Sewfi Wiawso

 

Places:

  • Kintampo,
  • Tepa
  • Seikwa
  • Bolgatanga
  • Jirapa

Short Facts

Project Type:

  • Feasibility study
  • Piloting
  • Implementation project
  • Knowledge transfer
  • Continuous maintenance + further development
  • other

 

Project volume*:

  • Less than €10.000,00
  • €10.000,00 – €50.000,00
  • €50.000,00 – €100.00,00
  • €100.000,00 – €250.00,00
  • more than €250,000.00
    (*) = The project volume includes all costs of HITA e.V. plus the expenses of the project partners. Private expenses and or ongoing operating and personnel costs are not included.

 

Period:

  • 2010-2016

 

Status:

  • Idea
  • Exploration
  • Implementation
  • Evaluation
  • Sustainably implemented (in regular use)
  • completed

Report

Problem definition / initial situation:

The Ghanaian Ministry of Health is making immense efforts to contribute to the Millennium Development Goals. Vocational training for health personnel is a high priority. A rapid increase in training numbers, with up to 1000 students per year, requires the massive purchase of new textbooks and other teaching materials. There is often no budget for this.

 

The project:

The Mobile Library project supports medical staff and trainees, especially nurses and midwives in rural areas, with learning resources on their cell phones. The aim of the project is to set up an electronic library (Mobile Library) that provides information for trainees, teaching staff and medical personnel via the Internet and mobile phones. This will create an easily accessible source of information throughout the country, which will compensate for and supplement the regional differences and equipment of school and hospital libraries. Almost everyone working in rural healthcare has a cell phone or smartphone. This is why the mobile devices of medical staff are suitable as a medium for training and further education. Even if the library or training institution in the city is far away, the digital library ensures access to urgently needed learning materials regardless of time and place. The Mobile Library provides a range of different learning materials depending on the mobile device.

 

Résumé and outlook:

This project has shown how access to learning materials can be created via different end devices. The lack of teaching material can be overcome by means of such access. General legal and, in particular, licensing issues were difficult and could not be finally clarified as part of this pilot project.

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