21927f


 * Proposal submission #21927**

An International Collaboration Involving Developed and Developing Nations: The Global Digital Divide
 * Title**

Ramona B. Patterson, The University of Tennessee, Health Science Center, Memphis Tennessee, USA, rpatte16@utmem.edu Cynthia K. Russell, The University of Tennessee, Health Science Center, Memphis Tennessee, USA, crussell@utmem.edu
 * Presenter(s)**

Although today's Internet offers a wide variety of tools to facilitate and enhance collaborations between partners around the world, educators must consider the realities of the global digital divide. Converging on projects where partnerships reflect contrasts between rich and poor countries demands creativity to confront issues and challenges inherent with such collaborations. The purpose of this online forum is to describe the experiences of a United States (US) nurse educator/ doctoral student while planning and completing a site visit to an educational institution in Ghana. This is being done as advance preparation for a collaborative distance education project to supplement existing nursing faculty and help build nursing capacity in Ghana. The primary author will lead the online forum.
 * Description**

Literature reviews helped identify issues, challenges, and potential solutions. Personal experiences of a Ghanaian college educator provide a rich resource of practical applications for realistic expectations regarding distance communication/education in Ghana. The US educator will conduct qualitative fieldwork during the Ghana visit (March 7 - 31) - to gain insights into the realities of nursing practice in Ghana, illuminating nursing needs from insider perspectives to structure future educational interventions accordingly. Data collected will include interviews and observations and involve information technology capabilities and access.

At the end of the forum participants will be able to describe issues/challenges associated with international collaborations related to technology, distance, culture, environment, and economics as well as identify Internet resources (IR) to facilitate international nursing collaborations, and IR to enhance cultural competencies. Guidelines will be offered illustrating creative solutions to challenges involving developing nations.

Forum Not previously published All audiences
 * Notes & Comments**