The Jamaica Masters Online Project: A Case Study

One outcome of globalization is that distance education is fast becoming the major provider of tertiary education in low-income, post-colonial countries. Jamaica has become a heavy importer of distance education and there is concern that this may have an adverse effect on the goals of the local education system. Education has always been used to instill national identity, to create national harmony and to foster cultural development. Do distance education providers share these interests? The Jamaica Masters Online Project is a collaborative effort between the Ohio State University and the Edna Manley College, to create a culturally responsive program of professional development for Jamaican art educators, using distance modalities. This review examines the complexities, challenges, processes and strategies involved in its development. It provides a foundation for understanding Jamaica's cultural concerns in the current global environment; the need for culturally relevant art education programs; and the value of art education as a site of resistance against global pressures.