Telecentres should find effective ways of delivering information to the respective users.

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Permalink Reply by Sandra Nassali on April 24, 2009 at 4:11am

Hi Robinson, this is a good discussion. Telecentres can use lots of ways to disseminate but i think this should also depend on what type of audience they are targeting for a specific presentation. For instance, if they are programing a presentation for the youth, the means of communication will definately vary from the ones used to inform the elderly of any given community. Below are some of the mediums of communication i think would be relevant to telecentres in cases of effective communicating:

Radio; this is very effective because it reaches out to lots of audiences at the same time though in different locations depending on the radius/strength of the signals.

Mobile phones; since they are the most popular ICTs in developing countries today and since they are also affordable unlike other technologies, it is paramount that telecentres do n't neglect their role while delivering relevant information to a given group of people. This could be a farmers' group, business group or the youth. Mobile phones are very effective since they are timely.

Videos and audio CDs; these are important since they are entertaining in a way and therefore are bound to attract large crowds. Educative information should be packaged interestingly however.

Brochures are also a good way of passing on information that telecentres too can emulate since they are generally used by lots of big companies in advertising. These however should always be designed to be simple, accurate and precise. It's a lot more better if they also designed in a local language or that one which most community members easily understands so that they have impact.

Thanks,

Sandra

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Permalink Reply by ROBINSON WIKANA MUKANGAYI on April 24, 2009 at 9:45am

Hi Sandra,

Thanks for that perfect mind. Am certain that we are now getting solutions on how to reach out. By the way, Telecentres can also host websites (though it might sound expensive) in which the appropriate information can be uploaded and the users can easily have them downloaded. Infact, this reaches out to people from a wider coverage. The same information can be well bound, shelved for easier retrieval and access- call them Libraries.

Thanks,

Robinson

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Permalink Reply by Sandra Nassali on May 4, 2009 at 7:56am

Yeah, using websites or on line libraries is a good idea and cost effective too. Actually, i participated in a discussion about a world digital library being set up by UNESCO and i liked this initiative.

Its on going in the telecentres for education group.

Sandra

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Permalink Reply by Wandila Simon on May 23, 2009 at 4:55am

This is quite a good discussion . When telecentres infact deliver information to the respective users effectively , they contribute to the knowledge of such an audience , and knowledge is power . There are so many residents of different communities who are information poor. Making these communities information rich and helping them to convert that information into knowledge, can help them to make informed decisions that have great value to their individual and community development , in different areas of life.

Well websites are realy a good way of reaching many people. Infact you may discover you have benefited even those you did not think will access and use that information world wide.As many may think of the costs of putting up a website, the costs of maintaining it and other worries that may accompany this idea/ mode of information dissemination , this is just within the range that is affordable by non profits .

I recommend the use of subdomains that are offered for free by trusted non profits. They offer free designing and hosting for non profits and will guide you through out the development process. Some of the organisations that offer these services are interconnectio n.org , Charityfocus.org ,cedc.org.

However ,we should always consider the audience for us to use the website , because the majority of the telecentre users may not be computer literate or easly have access to the internet.

Lets work together to benefit more communities and more residents.

Simon

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Permalink Reply by ROBINSON WIKANA MUKANGAYI on May 24, 2009 at 6:57am

Hi Simon,
Websites like you have stated go beyond boundaries. They spread wider and infact when like minded organizations access your website then they may end bringing in new ideas for knowledge development, testimonies, collaborations and partnerships among other goodies.
It has always been my believe that telecentres have a role, a major role in ensuring education for all, meeting the MDGs, set visions for the governments e.t.c. But then, there are some exercises that if well done and covered will ensure smooth running of telecentres. Capacity building and user education. Once the users of the telecentres who include the community at large are taught skills and basics like computer usage, online searches, benefits of websites, online chatting, Networkingvideo conferencing, E-agriculture, ICTs among others can be taught to enable them exploit this resources.
Therefore, through this user education which is continous, there should be isolated cases of trouble of the target groups using websites to gather relevant information.
Thanks for highlighting groups that work for the benefit of the community. Infact, the best one can do is to give back to the community.

Robinson Wikana Mukangayi

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Permalink Reply by Wangchuk Chungyalpa on May 7, 2009 at 11:57pm

Successful information dissemination requires the following steps. It is assumed that you have selected your sector/area, defined your objectives and identified your target group. The following is a information handling strategy designed to achieve optimal information dissemination. This process has been categorized as “Information Dissemination Process”.

INFORMATION DISSEMINATION PROCESS

1. Information gathering and research

This step involves doing research and gathering information. It is up to you to develop a effective information gathering and research process. The following are some pointers to aid you in developing such a process:

* Accuracy and reliability of the information source
* timeliness and relevancy of the information
* information storage and access

2. Information transformation
This process involves analysis, evaluation and selection of information thus leading to “transformation” of the information to a form that is practical and applicable to the target group.

3. Information packaging

Information can be packaged in any number of ways, in electronic format (pdf files, word files, text files, html document) and /or in printed format (fliers, brochures, magazines, just printed pages). Factors to consider include cost of packaging and target group accessibility and reach.

4. Information distribution channel

Some of the major distribution channels include:

• community telecentres
• community libraries
• educational institutes
• community radios
• local FM radio
• local TV channels
• local news papers and more
• internet forums and directory
• websites

Factors to consider include:

* cost of utilizing the distribution channel
* the reach as in absolute number of target audiences it can reach
* flexibility and
* ease of use.

5. Information delivery

Information delivery refers to the timeliness, frequency and context of the information delivery.

6. Process evaluation and feedback

As with all process, this function serves as a control measure to evaluate the effectiveness of the process. A good evaluation and feedback process will consist of mechanism to quickly and easily implement changes to the process.

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Permalink Reply by ROBINSON WIKANA MUKANGAYI on May 9, 2009 at 2:05am

Hallo Wangchuk Chungyalpa,
Thanks so much for your knowledgeable and loaded contribution. Am glad that your have taken us through the process exhaustively and summing it up by bringing one issue that was escaping the minds. "Evaluation" This actually will enable the Telecentres understand of trully they are on track or not.

Thank you so much.

Robinson Wikana

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Permalink Reply by Cuchie Echeverria on May 10, 2009 at 10:14pm

Hi Robinson!

Thanks for bringing this up. This is really one of the more important issues that we need to address in order for telecentres to be effective in the community because the bottom line is it is relevant information that will empower the community.

You have cited some very good ways of delivering information e.g. focus groups, printed materials, localized (translated) content, radio broadcasting. etc. Many of these are already being implemented in some telecentres in the Philippines, particularly the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Centers, a type of telecentre having farmers as the target group.

We are currently considering combining services of different types of telecentres and providing them in other Philippine telecentres nationwide to ensure wider reach of such services.

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Permalink Reply by ROBINSON WIKANA MUKANGAYI on May 23, 2009 at 3:25am

Thanks Cuchie,
Am so happy that atleast we (Telecentres) are heading somewhere and not everywhere. Atleast we are doing something. By the way? In doing this do you find problems repackaging this information into a language that can best be understood by everyone. For instance in our case, not everyone can understand English & Swahili which are basic languages. We are forced to do it in Luhya which is the local language for this special audience who for sure carry the largest %. I would wish to know how we can go around this. How do Telecentres manage this type of situtation?

Robinson Wikana Mukangayi

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