Community Learning by Radio and the Internet
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development. Copyright © 2002 Society for International Development. SAGE Publications (London, Thousand Oaks, CA and New Delhi), 1011-6370 (200212) 45:4; 61–63; 029610. NB When citing this article please use both volume and issue numbers.
Local/Global Encounters
Community Learning by Radio and the Internet D AV I D W O RT L E Y
ABSTRACT David Wortley illustrates the innovative ways ICTs can be used for community learning in his description of HFM Interactive – a Radio Show with Pictures, a three-week pilot project to assess the potential of community radio combined with virtual classroom technology as a tool for community engagement. KEYWORDS democracy; e-learning; ICT; information society; virtual conferences
Introduction In the UK, as in many other nations, universal access to Information Communications Technology (ICT) is regarded as a fundamental part of an equitable and healthy information society. A great deal of time and money is being spent on building infrastructure and providing public access points, but an even greater challenge may lie ahead. Engagement of ordinary people (especially those who are disadvantaged) in the use of ICTs to enhance their lives and strengthen the community is arguably the greatest challenge of all. HFM Interactive – The Radio with Pictures Show – was a three-week pilot project to assess the potential of community radio combined with virtual classroom technology as a tool for community engagement. About HFM HFM (Harborough FM) is a community radio station operating under a Restricted Service Licence (RSL), which means that the station can broadcast on a specific frequency for a period of one month. RSLs are granted up to a maximum of one every six months, and HFM operated their ninth such licence between 19 May and 15 June 2002.
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development 45(4): Local/Global Encounters The main content of the station is music and it is entirely managed and operated by volunteers who raise funds through sponsorship and advertising. HFM has been self-financing since its first broadcast, and its aim is to eventually secure a full time operating licence once the legislation is relaxed to allow this. In order to secure a full time licence, the strategy is to provide an innovative service which might be developed as a model for sustainability. HFM Interactive could provide that model. Hewlett Packard virtual classroom Hewlett Packard hosts a virtual conferencing service called HPVC (Hewlett Packard virtual classroom). This provides a virtual classroom, which can be used for a variety of purposes including training and brainstorming. Because HPVC participants can enter this virtual space via a normal web browser, almost any PC compatible computer in the world can be used to join a virtual event. Virtual events are hosted or facilitated by a project manager who trains the presenters and organizes the visual content shared by the participants. In order to ensure quality of service, the audio for any presentations and in
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