ICT for Development Education: ICT-based solutions and distance learning ICT4D Lecture 7 Tim Unwin

Lecture 7 Lecture outline Educational context EFA and UPE Technologies and education Case studies Enlaces China Imfundo Use of radio in education Linking to lecture by Michelle Selinger (Cisco)

Lecture 7 Context Global agenda for education But links between education and development are largely based on macro-level statistical correlations between development and educational indicators Need for process research Are curricula relevant for development? Great regional diversity Contrasts between China, India, Africa, Latin America Educational systems, curricula, political priorities

Lecture 7 Global Agendas (EFA) Much research indicating the links between education and development Dakar 2000 World Education Forum Framework for Action Education for All (EFA) by 2015 Annual global monitoring report Generally interpreted as free universal primary education Dominating donor agendas for education

Lecture 7 Global Agendas (UPE) Educational dimensions of the MDGs Subtle differences with EFA agendas MDG 2. Achieve universal primary education Ensure that all boys and girls complete a full course of primary schooling MDG 3. Promote gender equality and empower women Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education preferably by 2005, and at all levels by 2015 MDG 8. Global partnership for development In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologiesespecially information and communications technologies

Lecture 7 Perceived strengths of new technologies in education Reaching the masses But not necessarily a cheap solution Overcoming distance and accessibility Enabling lifelong learning Especially with dearth of teachers Issues surrounding HIV/AIDS Changing the system of learning Towards constructivist models Teacher as facilitator Standardised curriculum materials Limiting fraud in assessment process

Lecture 7 Traditional use of technology in education The traditional classroom Books Posters and displays Blackboards Alternative educational media Theatre and dance Radio and TV Newspapers Technology in education is not new

Lecture 7 New ICTs in education Drivers Benevolent good will Fuelled by civil society organisations Computers in schools initiatives Private sector interests Catching them young Expanding the market Resistance from many traditional educationalists Costs and benefits If this money was spent on traditional educational methods might not the results be better?

Lecture 7 New ICTs in education: the potential The value of computers and use of CD-ROMs Speed at which calculations are done Storage of vast amounts of information Both educational content and management systems Multimedia Learning also by sound and image Showing activities that cannot be done in class Networking and the Internet Group and peer learning activities Distance based opportunities Sharing expertise

Lecture 7 New ICTs in education: problems in practice Bringing together an understanding of education and the potential of technologies Education for ICT, not ICT for education Driven largely by private sector interests Lack of infrastructure provision Sustainability Costs of implementation and maintenance Importance of community involvement Potential of FOSS Teacher training often ignored Both pre- and in-service

Lecture 7 The Enlaces Programme in Chile A total integrated ICT based education programme But it took ten years to develop Began in 1992; effective integration in phase Effective ICT4D solutions for education are neither quick nor simple Key achievements (Laval) Nationwide infrastructure Basic teacher competence in ICT Social and political recognition of value of project National infrastructure for the future

Lecture 7 Teacher training in rural China Links with external donors UNDP-DFID in the five Western Provinces &order=0&thold=0 &order=0&thold=0 EU-China Gansu Basic Education Sector Infrastructures Extensive rural electrification Satellite delivery of learning resources Local teacher training Colleges Practices Use of TV in classrooms Discussions of value of digital materials Monitoring

Lecture 7 African SchoolNets and NEPAD Schoolnets Examples from Uganda and Namibia Importance of thin client and FOSS solutions The role of SchoolNet Africa Advocating role High profile attempted projects Networking NEPAD (The New Partnership for Africas Development) E-Schools initiative

Lecture 7 Imfundo: a donor-led initiative 2000 UK Prime Ministerial initiative Dot com bubble and the private sector Interests in Africa Innovative within DFID Partnerships Use of ICT Achievements 40 partners - a new partnership model Support in eight African countries Working for the most marginalised: street children and those with disabilities

Lecture 7 Examples of radio in education BBC World Service Radio Teacher in Somalia ( Zambia interactive radio alliance.org/newsletter/article.php?article_id=57 alliance.org/newsletter/article.php?article_id=57 Freeplay Foundation Advantages of radio Broadcast Can be used with local facilitators Can be supported by traditional feedback mechanisms

Lecture 7 Conclusions ICTs can make a substantial difference Disseminating content and new ways of learning But ICT needs to be carefully integrated Must bring together the technology with the education ICT for education, not education for ICT Need to combine use of ICT with more traditional methods of education (Pye, 2003) So that the most marginalised can benefit Key role of teachers and their training Infrastructures need to be put in place so that all can benefit

Opportunity for questions and discussion