CSCL for NGO´s cross cultural virtual teams in Africa: an Ethiopian children advocacy case study against exclusion and toward facilitation of expression, innovation and creativity

This exploratory pilot study shows that NGO´s involved in Children Advocacy through Arts in Africa are willing to use a groupware, meaning a computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environment. Innovative ideas and best practices among NGOs would be shared easily worldwide. Little scientific information is available to help them make a sound choice. This study suggests that some NGOs based in Ethiopia/Africa have specific needs which should translate in specific context analysis and interface development: 1) an intercultural approach to creativity, arts and innovation, and 2) emphasis should be placed on tools to facilitate asynchronous systematic conception and sharing of intra and cross-organizations information (log book, systematic case studies forms, best practices, music/sound, picture, short movies, literature,) to facilitate continuity, synergy, creativity and innovation. Under contribution being also a problem for most online communities, human and social sciences could provide mid level design principles to improve motivation.