Online Teacher Professional Development and the Right to Education
Six journals focused on online learning have issued a collaborative call for papers addressing the theme of “the role of distance education in the implementation of the right to education,” with reference to Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (see below).
The specific questions the call asks papers to address are the following:
- What is the role of distance education in the implementation of the right to education ?
- How is distance education involved when education is seen as a right ? What is its position in educational policy, as a factor of quality and an instrument for liberty.
Professional development delivered through networked technologies have a great deal to contribute in this realm. They fulfill the following flatten hierarchies, allowing for the exchange and co-construction of knowledge among for the flourishing of democratic interaction development of democratic forms of collaborative work in the exchange of professional practice.
Networked Technology: “professional education shall be made generally available” – ability to reach into areas that would not have access to ideas and expertise.
Field: “full development of the human personality ” – emphasis on performance view of understanding, exploring understanding
Interaction, collaboration: “strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms” “- collaborative interaction, flattening of hierarchies, deliberative and small group discussion. “promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups” –
The journals include:
Asian Journal of Distance Education : http://www.asianjde.org/
Distances et savoirs, www.cned.fr/ds, http://ds.revuesonline.com
EURODL : http://www.eurodl.org/
Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks : http://www.sloan-c.org/publications/jaln/
IRRODL : http://www.irrodl.org/
Open Praxis : http://www.openpraxis.com/
Article 26.
(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.