Distance Learning as a Tool for Poverty Reduction and Economic Development: A Focus on Two Countries, China and Mexico
> download pdf of paper

by Richard C. Larson and M. Elizabeth Murray, MIT. (to appear in Journal of Science Education and Technology)

June 2006

Abstract
Early in 2003, the Director of Community Learning Centers (CLC) in Mexico, Ms. Laura Ruiz, hosted visitors at the Virtual University at the Tecnologico de Monterrey. Knowing their interest in learning more about the CLC’s, she decided to take them on a trip to one of the nearby towns called Dr. Arroyo, Nuevo Leon, located 400 km south of Monterrey, to show them a real picture of the CLC’s. As soon as they arrived, they entered a classroom that she was proud to show them. Users’ heads were seen peaking out above almost all of the computer display screens, but she noticed that one in the back appeared empty. She started talking to the students, asking questions about what they were doing, when all of a sudden a little head peaked out from behind the “empty” computer display screen in the back. Ms. Ruiz and her guests were surprised to see a ten-year old girl sitting at the computer. As she approached the girl, Ms. Ruiz – humoring her guests – asked what she was doing there and the girl answered, “I have taken the Basic Computer Abilities Course, and now I am taking the labor certification
process”. Hearing this, Ms Ruiz became amazed to see that this little girl had finished a course that was not designed for children. So Ms. Ruiz became worried that since this girl was only ten years old, she might not get the certificate. As soon as Ms. Ruiz got back to Monterrey, she called to investigate the issue. They told her that they never thought a child would finish the course, but that they did not have a rule saying that a child could not get the certificate, so for the first time they gave the certificate to a ten-year old girl!