ICTs in education

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The world has recognized over the last decade that technology influences learning. More and more governments are investing in educational reform or "transformation" through connected schools and connected communities as a way to join the global economy with knowledge workers who have 21st century skills and are inspired by life-long learning. The Dakar Framework of Action for Education for All (EFA), adopted in 2000 as a roadmap to meet the Education for All goals by 2015, highlights the role that Information and communication technologies (ICT) has to support EFA goals at an affordable cost. ICTs have great potential for knowledge dissemination, effective learning and the development of more efficient education services.

Studies show a clear correlation between student learning and engagement in meaningful, relevant, and intellectually stimulating work (Newmann, Bryk & Nagaoka, 2001).

The frequency and relevance of such moments increases when technology enables us to tap outside experts, visualize and analyze data, link to real-world contexts, and take advantage of opportunities for feedback, reflection, and analysis (Bransford, Brown & Cocking, 2000).

When used effectively, research also tells us that integrating technology into education can help people become self-sustaining, lifelong learners, able to think and act productively. However, Education Initiatives are looking for safeguards to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of the investments being made in technology so that lasting differences are achieved in learning and productivity.

"technology can have the greatest impact when integrated into the curriculum to achieve clear, measurable educational objectives." (CEO Forum 2001)

Only two in ten schools make effective use of new technologies within the curriculum. (David Miliband, Department for Education and Skills, England, 2004).

Technology in the schools represents a change for school districts, principals and teachers in how learning can occur. This initiative is designed to maximize the effectiveness and sustainability of Education Initiatives by supporting educators, public authorities, NGOs, academics and all other stakeholders in the effective adoption of technology at the school and community levels.

Objectives

The objective of this activity is to create a community of practice to permit educators, public authorities, NGOs, academics and all other stakeholders to identify the potential of using ICTs to advance and improve education, barriers to using ICTs in education and to share knowledge and best practices about successful use of ICTs in education. Increasing the use and effectiveness of ICTs in education by developing and sharing knowledge about their successful use. Specifically:

  1. Increasing the use and effectiveness of ICTs in education by developing and sharing knowledge about their successful use.
  2. Developing networks among organisations and individuals to enable them to collaborate on the development of resources to improve and promote ICTs in education.
  3. Identifying and providing a repository of resources.
  4. Support those working with ICTs in education through a global community of practice.

Deliverables

  1. Community of Practice enabling communication and sharing of resources through an e-mail and web-based discussion forum.
  2. Implementation of a taxonomy/tagging structure to allow content to be grouped and easily searched.
  3. Implementation of project collaboration areas, to enable collaboration between specific working groups.
  4. Organised directory of resources (people, institutions, services, etc.).
  5. Project showcase / case studies of effective use of ICTs in education.

The value of Communities of Expertise changes and develops over time, as the membership, relationships and needs of the participants change. In order to adapt to these realities, our goal is to develop continually enhanced functionality, based on feedback from the participants in the Community of Expertise. The initial deliverable (targeted for February 2007) would consist of the most important elements of the Community of Expertise. Rather than being a prototype of what could be done, it will form the foundation of the Community of Expertise and will be made available to the community's first members. At the same time a working group of community leaders will be established to guide the continued development of the community.

The envisaged system will be built on top of Plone, a powerful, open source portal and content management system (CMS) used by many NGOs including Oxfam and International Institute for Communications and Development.

Lead organization

Global eSchools and Communities Initiative (GeSCI)

Focal Point

Partners

1. Cisco Systems Inc.
2. UNESCO
3. Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT)
4. Professor Tim Unwin, Royal Holloway University of London

Network Type

Community of Expertise

Area of Focus

Education
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