What is iLearn?

How we work

iLearn in use

iLearn is an online learning system devised by the BBC World Service Trust for media professionals in developing and transitional countries.

The courses are aimed at users with poor Internet connectivity and with little or no technical expertise. They can be published in any language.

iLearn courses:

  • Promote the principles of balanced, objective journalism
  • Provide advice, models and guidelines for best practice
  • Focus on developing professional skills

The participatory approach to learning was most useful. We learned not only from the tutor, but also from the group members... excellent!

iLearn trainee, India

iLearn forms a key component of "blended learning" programmes - i.e. face-to-face training coupled with online learning.

How it works

"The participatory approach to learning was most useful. We learned not only from the tutor, but also from the group members... excellent!"
iLearn trainee, India

iLearn students typically start their studies by attending a workshop with 10 to 12 other students. Then, over subsequent weeks, they complete a number of online modules.

Each module takes the student through a number of logical, progressive steps - one step per webpage.

Some steps contain an interactive element - asking the reader to think about an issue or come up with an idea, before moving forward to the next step.

At the end of a module there is a series of questions which test trainees' new understanding.

Finally trainees are asked to complete an assignment based on the information they have just learned. They submit this online and it is marked by a dedicated mentor.

Students usually meet their mentor at the initial workshop, and this personal relationship continues throughout the training programme, which may consist of several rounds of face-to-face and online training.

An average score of 60% across all modules is required to pass the course, and BBC-approved certificates are awarded to successful participants.

This process is managed by iLearn partners based in and around the world and supervised by the BBC World Service Trust.

Access to iLearn is password-protected. A system administrator grants registered users access rights to selected courses.


History

iLearn was initially developed in 2002 to meet the needs of broadcast journalists and journalism students in Sarajevo. It now supports a wide range of training projects worldwide.

iLearn training projects have been delivered successfully in Bulgaria, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Nigeria, Russia, Sri Lanka, Somalia and Somaliland, Syria and Yemen, among other countries.

Modules

There are now over 140 iLearn modules in over a dozen languages. These range from basic journalism skills and practice to more specialised topics.

Divided into 'Journalism', 'Radio', 'Television', 'Print', 'Online' and 'Management', modules include:

  • Interview skills
  • Reporting HIV and AIDS
  • Writing for Radio
  • Radio storytelling structures
  • Editing video
  • TV news features
  • Accuracy
  • Reporting the environment
  • Writing for the Web
  • Proposals and negotiation

View full list of modules

Each iLearn module is written by an experienced trainer and expert, before being checked and edited by the iLearn editorial team. We have about 20 expert trainers, who constantly create new modules and update existing ones.

Our trainers use these modules to create tailor-made courses, meeting the individual needs of each student.

The iLearn system tracks and manages the personal development of each trainee.

And the cumulative data shows the long-term impact of media development initiatives.

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