Using learning technologies in developing countries
Hi.
I'm often surprised when I see talks about virtual worlds in developing countries because I think that there are ways to exploit technology for learning using the tools that are already available to learners, like the radio.
What would you say to teachers with only one computer for miles around and poor connectivity?
- Iffaf
Hi!
I'm from India and I remember reading the story about 'the hole in the wall...'There's no doubt it was a great experiment and proved a point about children taking to technology easily if given a chance.
Recently the government here has started a programme on e-content generation not only for English but all the disciplines. The idea is to make the best resources freely available to all learners who have access to computers, not only the ones who own computers but also all those who can access them in cyber cafes in educational institutions.
It is hoped that gradually more and more people will be able to make use of new technologies for learning. What is needed is that teachers should integrate it into their teaching and also encourage their students to use the resources available to them.
Dear Iffaf,
nice to "see" you in this forum. We were "virtual classmates" in an online course ages ago, remember?
I just wanted to share what's going on in Uruguay. At state schools every child is having access to a computer so now even the "landscape" in the villages in the countryside has changed as you see children in the squares with their laptops. If this is happening in their mother tongue, as teachers of English we can not stay behind so I believe that more and more integrating learning technologies in our lessos is a MUST.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8309583.stm
very best wishes
Hi Laura
Thank you for providing the link to this very interesting article. It is an amazing project to give every pupil a laptop. In this case, the teachers have been forced to keep up with modern technology. Some might resist it at first, but given time, they will look back and surely be grateful that they can share this exciting situation, which will have enormous implications for the future of their pupils.
Best
Janet
Hi all,
In developing countries, educational policies are sometimes mingled with hidden intentions. Some days ago the president of Argentina announced the opening of a scheme to provide students and teachers in state-run schools with computers (netbooks). It is true that you can´t turn a blind eye to the fact that the way in which the world runs has completely changed because of technology. But it´s also true that many of the children who will receive their netbooks can´t read and write at an age when they already should, for want much more basic things than a computer. But at the same time, I wonder whether the possibility to have access to technology might make up for all the other lacks in their lives. This is an open question. I don´t have the answer. Do you?
Dear Mercedes
I don't really have an answer to your question but what I feel is that those children at least will have access to computers and be exposed to the internet. I've seen it in Uruguay, and it is very nice to see children in the countryside who attend rural state schools carrying their laptops with them!
We all know how quick children are, perhaps the main issue lies in the training the teachers get....
Many years ago it was vital to have 100% literacy in a country's population, but at present I believe that IT literacy and knowledge of a foreign language have become a must in education.
These are just my thoughts!
You might be interested to read the article here http://www.scidev.net/en/news/latin-america-lagging-in-ict-use.html which explains that Latin America lags behind.
On the other hand, read http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7106998.stm.