| GDLN Centers World Map – Click on the map to visit a specific region |
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What is a GDLN Center? |
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What does a GDLN Center look like? |
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What do GDLN Centers offer? |
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What does it cost? |
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How to become a GDLN Center |
GDLN
Centers are at the heart of the Network because they are the facilities
that receive and deliver programs across the globe. Equipped with
technology and staff, they provide, share, and disseminate development-related
knowledge and information by linking with other Centers and distance
learning networks around the world through videoconferencing. In
addition, they offer multimedia rooms with computers and Internet
access and provide logistical support and facilitation services.
Through these facilities, people around the world can interact with
each other as if they were in the same room. Clients and partners
use GDLN to organize events on development issues, including meetings,
courses, seminars, and other learning events. These activities can
be “virtual” and face-to-face and usually combine both
methods. Activity topics range from health and education policy
to business development, environmental monitoring, and trade.
GDLN
Centers make their facilities available to partners and clients
against fees to cover connectivity and operational costs. Typically,
staff in the GDLN Centers also have contacts in the local development
community and know facilitators and translators who can help with
designing and delivering activities. Consequently, knowledge exchanges
and learning activities between people who meet each other through
GDLN Centers have become a great alternative to other traditional
forms of communication, such as face-to-face meetings, classroom
training and teaching.
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A Owned |
Centers’
facilities and services can be used for meetings, knowledge exchanges,
or other activities on development topics, including courses, seminars
and workshops be they virtual, face-to-face or both. GDLN activities
typically combine several methods and technologies:
Videoconferencing
Videoconferencing (VC) is the primary tool GDLN Centers use to
connect people around the world for effective, timely and interactive
knowledge exchanges. With videoconferencing, participants can
see and hear other participants in far-way locations, immediately
react to what is said, and engage in dialogue. Like with any other
meeting or learning activity, good planning and facilitation can
substantially contribute to the success of a videoconference.
Since interaction takes place across long distances, different
time zones, and within limited time, it is even more important
to ensure that exchanges are interactive and that participants
can make substantial contributions to the discussions.Computers
and Internet
Using computers and the Internet, people in different GDLN Centers
can interact with each other beyond the videoconferencing sessions.
Access to the Internet also promotes information and resource-sharing.
Partners often develop dedicated websites for specific learning
activities to make available presentations, supplemental reading
materials, and other resources which participants can download
before, during, or after specific sessions.Other
Support
GDLN Centers usually offer all logistical, pedagogical and facilitation
support needed to make an activity successful, either through
their own staff or through contacts. Local facilitators and translators
can provide substantial support to the design and delivery of
a GDLN activity.
| Centers in Focus |
| To read about the featured GDLN Center in focus, please click here. |
GDLN
Center facilities are available to current and potential clients
and partners. Centers charge rental fees to recover connectivity
and operational costs. To see the suggested rates for renting facilities
at GDLN Centers, please click
here.
Are
you interested in setting up a GDLN Center? Find out about institutional,
technical and managerial requirements for joining GDLN by visiting
the Knowledge Resources section.