1. Enhancing Impact: Information Technology for Health April 2006

2. Structure of the presentation Virtual Programs 1. Virtual and Blended Learning Programs 2. Virtual Networks 3. Virtual Conferences How to determine your virtual program learning needs

3. Virtual learning program: Virtual Leadership Development Program (VLDP) 13-week, 7 module blended learning program Face-to-face team work combined with virtual learning and exchange

4. Enroll teams, rather than individuals Individual work in their work environment through VLDP Web site with workbook back-up Active virtual facilitation Post-program follow up in LeaderNet Characteristics of the VLDP

5. Virtual learning programs: USAID e-learning Modules Internal professional development learning site for US- and mission-based staff Extensive content management and learning evaluation systems

6. Virtual learning programs: The Provider’s Guide Multimedia-rich seminar for health providers in the US Being adapted for use in other countries

7. Virtual Network: LeaderNet A network for graduates from our face-to-face and blended learning programs 560 members from 33 countries communicating in four languages

8. Virtual Network: Global Exchange Network for Reproductive Health USAID “graduated” countries (GCs): no longer receive Population and RH funding. Requested a mechanism for exchange among these countries. A virtual network of reproductive health decision makers, policy makers and service providers. Designed to promote communication and exchange on proven practices, ideas, results and challenges facing them. Conducted with partners in Graduated countries, for other GCs and also non GCs.

9. Virtual Conferences Global Exchange Network: Two virtual conferences on RH/FP topics, one hosted by Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico; the other hosted by Morocco. Each conference was held on a platform created by iCohere: http://www.icohere.com/

10. What is a virtual conference? A virtual conference offers everything a face-to-face conference can, including the opportunity for: Audio and visual presentations Conversations and exchanges spanning several locations, time zones, and times of day Posing questions to the presenters and other participants Real-time chat options Posting resources, announcements, internet links, and biographical information (including photos)

11. Conference demonstration

12. Virtual Conference Results 165 people from 16 LAC countries participated in 3-day virtual conference on adolescent RH, in addition to people from US, Spain, Morocco, and Sweden 98 people from Morocco, eight other francophone African countries, Switzerland and the US participated in 3-day conference on Safe Motherhood

13. “I am located at a training site situated very far from the university and very far from the cities where conferences are generally held. But, even if I worked all day, I had the opportunity to review all of the presentations.” – Virtual conference participant “The concept of a virtual conference permits us to avoid the difficulties linked to finding the funds for traveling and other charges linked to participating in a conference.” – Virtual conference participant Virtual Conference Results

14. Virtual Conference Preparations We started preparations for each conference 3-4 months before the conference.

15. Level of Effort Staff: One project manager, one electronic products specialist, and one administrative support staff person made up the core team. All of the presenters volunteered their time. We worked closely with the staff at iCohere (included in our contract with them) iCohere was easy to work with.

16. Level of Effort Special considerations: Both of our virtual conferences were in foreign languages, which added complexities, time, and costs. We worked with several partners for each conference, liaised between partners, and coordinated the presentation preparations and recordings. iCohere normally configures the conference Web site as part of their services, but for our conferences, we did this configuration.

17. Level of technology necessary Level of technology necessary is relatively low. The necessities: Access to the Internet and have very minimal Internet and computer skills Ability to understand the instructions for disabling a pop-up blocker Openness to using and exploring new technologies

18. Virtual Conference Lessons Virtual conferences really work for sharing ideas, proven practices, successes, and challenges among people who might otherwise never communicate. Inexpensive way to plan and conduct a conference involving so many people (no travel necessary) Virtual conferences are possible in a variety of countries and settings, including most of the developing world.

19. How to determine your virtual program learning needs 1.What is your objective? What is the problem you are trying to solve? 2.Who is your intended audience? 3.What is the context of that audience? 4.Will the program be on-going or a one-time event? 5.What sort of staff support do you have for the program?

20. Any questions? Thank you

21. Closing the gap between what is known about public health problems and what is done to solve them