University of Iowa

The bulk of the world's population does not have access to libraries or the Internet. Where Internet service is available in developing countries, such service is often unreliable or tremendously expensive. Sponsored by the University of Iowa, the WiderNet Project aims to address this issue by providing universities and community centers with the eGranary Digital Library, an off-line hard drive that allows users access to over 20 million educational resources, many of them Open Educational Resources (OER). With a built-in search engine and catalog, along with the capacity to create local Web sites, database applications, and blogs, and to deliver managed courses via an open source learning management system (Moodle), the eGranary imitates the Internet and offers inexpensive, fast access to a wealth of resources through local area network connections. Provision of content alone is insufficient for widespread adoption and use, however. Funding for the WiderNet Project would provide training for a team of local support staff who would train educators, researchers, and their assistants in the use of eGranary, and in the development of culturally appropriate custom curriculum built on OER.