Frequently Asked Questions

What if I am having scheduling problems with the start and end dates of a course?
There is an additional two weeks built in as a buffer for staff who are traveling, have connectivity problems and are otherwise not able to complete in the six week period.

Do I need to be “in class” at a specific time?
The course is run in an asynchronous format.  That means that the participants do not need to be online in the course workspace at the same time.  The instructor will set the parameters for how often you need to participate in the workspace.  The instructors are well aware that you are in many different time zones and will make accommodations for that.

What do I do if I have difficulty connecting to the AED portal?
Each participant will be sent a link to the internet to log on to the course.  Your AED email address will be used in your user ID.

Do I have to use my AED email address?
We are using the AED email for everyone, so even if you sent a yahoo or other email address, we reverted to your AED email address.  This is a part of our process to manage the courses.  You will not need to access the AED portal to log on to the course.

Can I work from home or do I need to work from the office?
You can work from anywhere you like; internet access is all you need, not access to the AED Portal.

How do I pay for the course?
There are several options for payment:

1. Ed Benefits* – U.S.–Based Staff
   If you are on the US payroll and have access to the Benefits webpage, you can complete the Ed Benefits request form as you would for any other Benefits request with two changes.  You must do these two things for your request to be processed accurately: 1) In the Course Title field, put “PDD 101: Planning a Project Using Participatory Communication”.   2) Do NOT request an advance.  You will not need to make a payment in advance.  PDD will pay Ohio University and then process your Benefits payment at the completion of the course ($100 if you complete, $300 if you don’t).
   
   
   
2. ED Benefits* – Staff outside the US (Local Staff)
   Cost is free with COP or Project Director Approval. However, if the course is not completed you will be responsible for the full amount of the course. You have 7 days to withdrawal from the course without penalty.
   
   If you have any other payment situation that’s not covered here, contact us by email or phone and we will find a way to work it out with you.
   
   Who do I contact if I need additional information?

For further information, contact us:
Pamela Paul, Ph.D., Vice President & Director
202-884-8647(O)/202-884-8410(fax)
PPaul@aed.org

Nickey Rhodes, Senior Office Manager
202-884-8038
Nrhodes@aed.org

*Please note that Ed Benefits can only be used for completed courses.  If you do not complete, you will be responsible for covering the costs from your own funds.

Courses

Participatory Communication

There's a lot more to participation than community meetings. In this course we go a step further and learn new methods of communication. You are presented with hypothetical situations that demand the use of certain participatory methods. These activities will help you understand, as a communicator and project planner, how to ensure active and meaningful participation in communication. In the final section of the course, we will consider what the implications are of considering participatory communication as an end in and of itself in development projects, rather than as a means to an end. Read full course summary and learning objectives.

Planning Communication Strategies for Social Change

Field Research in Non-Western Settings

Through a series of modules we will explore and discusses theories and cases related to conducting research field in the context of development, analyze each method and explore its application to non-western settings. It promotes the exchange of criteria and opinions about research methods based on case studies and through group work among the participants and discussions with the instructor. The course would primarily rely on benefits of research in non-western settings as applied to designing and implementing effective communication programs. Read full course summary and learning objectives.

Evaluation and Assessment

This online course is designed to provide students with a practical understanding of the processes involved in communication program evaluation and assessment in public and non-profit settings. The goal is to equip participants with the skills necessary to effectively assess, evaluate, and ultimately improve the communication programs in which they may be involved. In this course, communication programs are taken to include research initiatives, participatory communication projects, training services, and community mobilization efforts and programs. Read full course summary and learning objectives.

Reporting Evaluation and Assessment Results

Once evaluations and assessments are completed, the next challenge is to communicate the results of to stakeholders including donors, government agencies, local leaders, community members, and the media. Using quantitative and qualitative data from various development projects, participants will gain skills in the analysis and presentation of results in various formats-from project reports to executive summaries, audio-visual materials, and press releases.