Central Asia Participation, Education, and Knowledge-Strengthening Project (PEAKS)

peaks.glp.net
Funded by
USAID

What happens to valuable digital documents and materials at the end of a project? This question faced the AED implemented PEAKS project.

The PEAKS project worked in Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to strengthen teacher training process and educational reform efforts through the introduction of innovative classroom methods and management. Focusing on interactive teaching and learning methods, the project compiled a sizeable library in Russian and English of materials for primary and secondary teachers, mentors, directors, and trainers. These materials offer inexpensive and flexible alternatives to more costly, and complicated teacher training and educational development programs.

As the project drew to a close, PEAKS staff contacted GLP for guidance on how to make these valuable materials remain available to educators even after the project funds had ended.

GLP’s solution was to build an online digital library in English and Russian, with instructions for each group of end users . In addition, GLP trainers conducted workshops in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for teachers and computer instructors to ensure that these users had the skills necessary to use and access the digital library.

Lessons Learned

  • Language Matters: While the various documents in the digital library all show significant download activity, the documents in Russian were more popular than English. Therefore, a key lesson learned with the PEAKS project was the importance of building a digital library with content in a language understood by its intended users, in this case, Russian.

  • Measurement: Baseline measurements of usage are important to capture so that usage can be tracked over time. Methods of measurement such as web statistics are low cost and low human resource intensive ways to monitor the use of a tool such as an online library.

  • Training: Training on how to use the digital library also proved essential to ensure the library’s usage.

  • Sustainability: Despite the training, the digital library did see decreased activity on the site. This fact demonstrates the importance of working closely with the project on their sustainability plan early on to ensure ongoing usage and relevance after the main support activities have ended.

    For example, utilizing the library to support the alumni network of teachers involved in the project has proven effective at prolonging the impact of a project, even after activities end. Often these alumni will informally support and train other members and colleagues on using the online tools if they continue to find them of use.