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EVALUATION & RESEARCH
Ivins, T. & Nabi, R. (2006) National Literacy Retention Study in Pakistan. Education Reform Assistance Program (ESRA-USAID): Islamabad, Pakistan.

Ivins, T. & Nabi, R. (2006) Sustaining Literacy Skills: Assessing the Viability of Literacy Resource Centres in Pakistan (ESRA-USAID): Islamabad, Pakistan.

Ivins T. & Nabi R. (2005) Cultivating a Culture of Literacy in the Home: an Evaluation on the Effects of the Family Reading Programme in Pakistan. Education Reform Assistance Program (ESRA-USAID): Islamabad, Pakistan.

Ivins, T., Ziyenge, N. & Sharma, M. (2003) Situation Analysis of ProLiteracy’s Field Work in Rural Himalayan Villages. Tulasi Meher UNESCO Club (TMUC): Kathmandu, Nepal.


PUBLICATIONS
Ivins, T. (2009) Microfranchising MicroLearing Centers: A Sustainable Model for Expanding the Right to Education in Developing Countries? Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, Vol. 12: Issue 1, IRRODL Special Issue. (Peer-Reviewed Article).

Ivins, T. (2004) Refugees Build Peace with Education: Youth Leaders in Sudan and Kenya. Say What? Magazine Volume 2, Issue 2, pp. 19-22. Salt Lake City, UT. (Peer-Reviewed Article.)

Ivins, T. (2001) The Impact of Female Literacy on Rural Well-Being in Nepal. Oxford University Master’s Dissertation: Oxford University, England, UK.

Ivins, T. (1999) Ndiyindoda: Becoming a Man in Xhosa Culture. Journal of International Area Studies. Volume 4, Issue 1, pp. 12-16. Kennedy Center Press, Brigham Young University: Provo, UT. (Peer-Reviewed Article.)


PRESENTATIONS
Ivins, T., & Lee, J. (2010) Open Content for Development (OC4D): Increasing Access to Localized Content in Himalayan Community Technology Centers. Comparative International Education Society Conference Paper Presentation (Accepted for March, 2010 Conference): Chicago, IL.

Ivins, T., Spence, M. (2009) Creating Self-Reliant Telecenters in Nepal: Open Content for Development.  Economic Self Reliance Conference (ESRC) Roundtable Presentation. Brigham Young University: Provo, UT.

Ivins, T., & Lee, J. (2008) Himalayan Educational Technology Centers: Expanding the Right to Educational Technology Centers in Rural Areas. Comparative International Education Society Conference, Columbia University: New York, NY.

Ivins, T., & Shrestha, R. (2007) Opening Educational Resources in Nepal: Case Studies of Localization in the Himalayas.  Open Education Conference Paper Presentation. Utah State University: Center for Open and Sustainable Learning, Logan, UT.

Ivins, T., & Lee, J. (2007) Youth Leadership in the Himalayas: Highlights from Youth-Managed Resource Centers. Open Education Conference Paper Presentation. Utah State University: Center for Open and Sustainable Learning, Logan, UT.

Ivins, T., & Lee, J. (2007)  Building Communities Through Open Content in Rural Himalayan Villages. Open Education Conference, Utah State University: Logan, UT.

Ivins, T. & Lee, J. (2007) Crossing Borders While Respecting Boundaries: Incorporating the Culture of Technology into Himalayan Educational Programs. Association for Educational Communications and Technology Conference: Anaheim, CA.

Ivins, T., & Lee, J.  (2006) Enhancing Youth Managed Resource Centers. Open Education Conference, Utah State University: Center for Open and Sustainable Learning, Logan, UT.

Ivins, T., & Nabi, R. (2006) Creating a Culture of Literacy: The Family Reading Program in Pakistan. Comparative International Education Society Conference: Honolulu, HI.

Ivins, T., & Lee, J. (2006) Raising the Bar on Community Through Technology: Initiating Gender-Sensitive Technology Training in Rural Nepal. Comparative International Education Society Conference: Honolulu, HI.

Ivins, T. (2006) Keynote Address: Literacy, Gender, and Education: Crossing Borders and Respecting Boundaries. International Inquiry Conference, Brigham Young University, Kennedy Center: Provo, UT.

Himalayan Educational Technology Centers: Expanding the Right to Educational Technology Centers: Expanding the Right to Education in Rural Areas

CIES Conference (March 2008) 

Presenters: Tiffany Ivins Spence (Utah State Univeristy), Mitchell Spence (Community Development Network) and Jeff Lee (Pepperdine University) 

Youth-Managed Resource Centers (YMRC) are Himalayan learning centers which advance integrated educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through technologies tailored for remote communities. Here, youth volunteers access critical information and disseminate customized educational tools (health, agricultural, economic content) in far-flung mountain villages. Due to the rugged terrain of these Himalayan villages, communities suffer from delayed dissemination of information. The YMRC responds to this need by facilitating access to critical information through digital libraries, online content, and Open CourseWare (OCW). Utilizing Open Educational Resources for Development (OERD), appropriately-used technologies (computers, solar panels, wireless, NepaLinux, internet and intranets) also amplify development opportunities by bridging information gaps while simultaneously preserving indigenous cultures and rural lifestyles.

This presentation investigates whether Youth-Managed Resource Centers (YMRC) are a viable strategy whereby rural learners around the world may gain educational equity.  Highlighting specific case studies, we will show how, in addition to supporting individual learning, Youth-Managed Resource Centers simultaneously empower youth as "Village Ambassadors" who share knowledge with women's groups, farmers' cooperatives, merchants, and health workers.

Crossing Borders While Respecting Boundaries: Incorporating the Culture of Technology into Himalayan Education Programs

AECT Conference (October 2007) 

Presenters: Tiffany Ivins Spence (Utah State Univeristy), Mitchell Spence (Community Development Network) and Jeff Lee (Pepperdine University) 

Is it possible to preserve cultural diversity while embracing a culture of technology? Youth-Managed Resource Centers (YMRC) are Himalayan learning centers which advance integrated educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through technologies tailored for remote communities. Here, youth volunteers access critical information and disseminate customized educational tools (health, agricultural, economic content) in far-flung mountain villages. In this way, the culture of technology amplifies development opportunities by bridging information gaps while simultaneously preserving indigenous cultures and rural lifestyles.

Raising the Bar on Community through Technology: A Training Project in Rural Nepal

CIES Conference (March 2006)

Presenters: Tiffany Ivins Spence (Utah State Univeristy), Natasha Ivins (Community Development Network) and Jeff Lee (Pepperdine University)

Building Communities Through Open Content in Rural Himalayan Villages - A Community of Practice Approach To learning

The Youth Managed Learning Center is a project where youth in Nepal are using technology as a tool to facilitate learning for villages in rural Himalayan village. To make sure that leraning content is localized for the end users, the youth will take on a "Community of Practice" approach to working together.

CSOL Open Education Conference (September 2007)

Presenters: Dr. Paul Sparks (Pepperdine University) and Jeff Lee (Pepperdine University)

Open Edcational Resources in Nepal: Case Studies of Localization in the Himalayas

Open Educational Resources are increasingly in demand as farmers, merchants, women's groups and youth seek localized content to advance educational and entrepreneurial opportunities. Rural Himalayan technology centers reveal innovative approaches for marginalized groups to access, adapt, and disseminate knowledge through customized content, Nepali-based software, and tailored technologies
COSL Open Education Conference (September 2007)

Presenters: Tiffany Ivins Spence (Utah State Univeristy) and Mitchell Spence (Community Development Network)