This document discusses the importance of education and ICT for building skills and opportunities. It outlines goals for ensuring universal primary education and gender equality in schooling by 2015. The document advocates for developing ICT infrastructure in schools to improve access to knowledge and networking. Teachers must gain skills to facilitate innovative learning using new technologies. National strategies aim to enhance teacher training and the quality of education through improving resources, curriculum and learner support.
12. Needs to be
Developed by ICT’s
The main aim for
this is that for the
next 5 years every
child in the world
should have access
to a digital
information and
communication
infrastructure.
13. ICT – Key device for
lifelong learning
Should be
encouraged
worldwide
Needs an
integration of
Education into the
real world
15. Knowledge society is
networked
Need to develop networks
and involve all countries
Networks in education
present many ways to
access knowledge,
suggest many possibilities
for networking people and
developing collaborative
work and enhancing the
“collective intelligence”.
16. ICT based
education and
training is a
growing reality
Research must
continue on the
development of
these technologies
and their
applications
17. Teachers in the
knowledge society
need to deal with new
knowledge
New ways of
accessing knowledge
Co-operational and
collaboration
Teachers must be
involved in
international networks
27. FUTURE NATIONAL
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
AND The National and
internationalinitiatives
concerningconstant
professional
development of teachers
withregard to teacher
competency standards
relatingto ICTs and
professional aptitude.
28.
29. 1.) Engage in
Instructional Design
Processes
2.) Facilitate and
Inspire Student
Learning, Innovation
and Creativity
4.) Engage in
Assessment and
Communication of
Student Learning
3.)Create and
Manage Effective
Learning Environments
5.) Engage in Professional
Development and Model
Ethical Responsibilities
6.) Understand Subject
Matter for Use in Teaching.
30.
31. The DFID focus on a clear vision -Quality
basic Education for all and remaining
committed to the education Millennium
Development Goals and to the broader
Education for EFA goals.
To deliver this vision, 3 main priorities:
Skills to link young
people to
opportunities and
jobs, and to promote
growth.
Quality of teaching
and learning,
particularly in basic
literacy and
numeracy
Access to a basic
education cycle of
primary and lower
secondary,
particularly in fragile
and conflict affected
states
32. To support improved access to good
quality basic education for all children
DFID will:
Allocate bilateral
education aid to
basic education
Support supplies,
construct
classrooms, access
to water and
sanitation, removing
primary school fees
Education
programs,
expansion of
basic education
and at affordable
rates
Focus on kids that
are not in primary
school and
provide
education for
them
36. The Department of Education has
undertaken ICT as one of the initiatives to
implement on the White Paper on e-
Education.
ICT’S offer better opportunities to access
learning, rectify inequalities and develop
better quality of teaching and learning
ICT enables teachers to give learners
opportunities for them to develop and in
lifelong learning.
ICT has put demand in skills and
knowledge of teachers
37. Teachers need to develop skills to enhance
learning.
Teachers are central to the implementation
of the NCS
Provide teachers with the necessary
knowledge, skills and understanding to
successfully integrate ICT into everyday
educational practices
The White Paper on e-Education views ICT
development as a process that takes
teachers and Learners through learning
about ICT, learning with ICT and learning
through the use of ICT.
38. Cornu, B. Being a teacher in the knowledge society. France
IFIP.The Stellenbosch Declaration.2005. ICT in Education: Make it
work. South Africa.
Education international. 2008. Education for all by 2015.
Wheeler, S. 2000. The role of the teacher in the use of ICT.
[Online] Available url:
file:///F:/New%20folder/ICT%20in%20Education%20%20%20United%2
0Nations%20Educational,%20Scientific%20and%20Cultural%20Organ
ization.htm
Pearson. 1995. The Pervasiveness of technology.
[Online] Available url:
file:///F:/Chapter%201%C2%A0%C2%A0The%20Pervasiveness%20of
%20Technology.htm
UNESCO-IICBA (2012). ICT-enhanced Teacher Standards for Africa.
Ethiopia. UNESCO – IICBA
Department for international development. (2010). Learning for all.
United Kingdom.
RSA, Department of education. 2007. Guidelines for Teacher Training
and Professional Development in ICT. Dept. Of Education.
Department of basic education. 2011. Strategic Plan 2011-2014. South
Africa.
Notas do Editor
As I began to write this piece as to why there is an international and national imperative to include educational technologies into teacher training and professional development, I firstly wondered why Education was significant to one’s life. I then started to ponder on my schooling career, the grounding years of anyone's education. I remembered the great teachers I had throughout my education, the lessons they taught, the effective ones and the non-effective ones, the late night studying and the lifelong friendships that were made. I first want to commence my essay by pointing out why education is essential in one’s existence and thereafterI would highlight a few important topics and the reason for me writing this essay. Theseinclude Education goals for all, knowledge society agenda, pervasiveness of technology, Present future national strategic objectives and lastly highlight the broad aims of the various national and international initiatives concerning constant professional development of teachers with regard to teacher competency standards relating to ICTs and professional aptitude.
Why is education important?
Why is education important?
The first thing that Strikes me about education is the knowledge that is gained from it and that it’s a basic human right for all. Education makes a huge difference in one’s life and it ensures a bright, prosperous future ahead. Children that do benefit from receiving an education have secured futures; they are less likely to become victims of abuse and schooling also plays an increasingly vital role in helping children guard themselves against the diseases that can destroy poor communities. School builds confidence, cohesiveness and community.
Our age of rapid change
We are living in an age of rapid change and uncertainty and the area of most hasty change is that of information and communications technologies which is also known as ICT. In order for teachers to keep pace with new methods and technologies, they need to adjust with change, have a good understanding on why these technologies would have a vast impact in the classroom and what skills they need to obtain to be efficient in an ICT based learning environment.
(Wheeler, 2000).
What is ICT?
What is ICT?
Information and communication technologies in education deal with the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) within the educational technology. ICT in education means implementing of its equipment in teaching and learning procedures as a media. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are essential to the changes taking place all over the world. Digital media has revolutionised the Information society and advances in ICTs have dramatically changed the learning and teaching process. This has opened up fresh learning opportunities and provided admission to educational resources well beyond those traditionally available.
The provision of a telecommunication infrastructure available for learning and teaching is gradually increasing, and many schools are exploiting the benefits of ICTs to enhance the quality of teaching and learning.
Knowledge Society Agenda
What is a knowledge society?
Knowledge society refers to a human society in which knowledge should bring justice, solidarity, democracy and peace. It can also be referred to a society in which knowledge could be a force for changing society. A society which should provide universal and equitable access to information (UNESCO).
Education is a key issue in the knowledge society and as educators we want to enable our students and all people to access knowledge and to have an advantage from being educated. It is our duty as educators to assist developing countries to take part in the growth of ICT in education. There are six chief areas that will aid in shaping a helpful use of ICT in education. There are: Digital Solidarity, Learners and Lifelong Learning, Decision-Making Strategies, Networking, Research and Teachers. (IFIP, 2005).
Digital Solidarity
Digital solidarity needs to be developed by ICT and the main aim for this is that for the next 5 years every child in the world should have access to a digital information and communication infrastructure. (IFIP, 2005).
Learners and Lifelong Learning
ICT is a key device for developing lifelong learning. ICT should be used for the development of lifelong learning and it needs an integration of education into the real world. It is important for lifelong learning to be encouraged in all countries, worldwide.
Decision Making Strategies
Bridging research, practice, experimentation, innovation with decision-making is all essential points when making decisions meet the real needs. Decision makers should read up on findings of researchers and experiences of practitioners in order to come up with good useful decisions. (IFIP, 2005).
Networking
The knowledge society is networked and there is a need to develop networks and involve all countries in them. Networks in education present many ways to access knowledge, suggest many possibilities for networking people and developing collaborative work and enhancing the “collective intelligence”.
(IFIP, 2005).
Research
The development of ICT-based education and training processes is a growing reality. There is therefore a need to continue research work on the development of these technologies and their applications. (IFIP, 2005).
Teachers
Being a teacher in the knowledge society requires teachers to deal with new knowledge, new ways of accessing knowledge with a networked world and with new types of co-operation and collaboration; with a society in which knowledge plays a crucial role; with lifelong learning. Teachers are the key agents to the education system and it is our responsibility to assist all countries to coach and recruit teachers, and to involve all teachers in international networks.
(IFIP, 2005).
Pervasiveness of technology
Pervasiveness of technology
If you reflect about what you do every day that involves technology, the list is astonishing. Much of what we do in our everyday lives some way or the other involves technology that we do not much notice and likely do not understand. The use of technology has become so frequently used among youngsters aswell as adults for many purposes. Children may not only use technology for social networking purposes but also to access information for homework and assessments. There is a rapid development of technology around the world and there are benefits that can be brought to school education through the appropriate use of these technologies. Some of these benefits may include improved teaching and learning processes to better student outcomes, increased student engagement, efficient management and monitoring within the school and socially active classrooms. (Copyright, 1995).
The Education international has set itself a global challenge with the prospective to change the lives of millions of children and adults around the world. that challenge is embodied in the six Education for All goals (By 2015). They are:
1. Expand early childhood care and education- This includes a contribution to young children’s physical, mental, social and emotional Development, eliminate disadvantage and prepare children for formal schooling. (Education International. 2008).
2. Provide free and compulsory primary education to all- This is considered to be a right to all children and should be provided.
(Education International. 2008).
3. Promote learning and life skills for young people and adults.
(Education International. 2008).
4. Increase adult literacy by 50 percent- Adult literacy, equality of access
to schools and quality education. (Education International. 2008).
5. Achieve gender parity by 2005, gender equality by 2015- eliminate gender disparities in basic education
(Education International. 2008).
6. Improve the quality of education- Quality of infrastructure in schools aswell as the quality in the teaching force.
(Education International. 2008).
Future national strategic objectives AND the National and international initiatives concerning constant professional development of teachers with regard to teacher competency standards relating to ICTs and professional aptitude. (COMBINED)
ICT-enhanced teacher standards for Africa (ICTeTSA)
The UNESCO-IICBA judge that there is a need for teacher education programs to work in the direction of high standards in terms of the pedagogical integration of ICTs for quality teaching to materialize in the 21st century. The development of the ICT-enhanced teacher standards for Africa (ICTeTSA) was thus conceptualized and initiated by UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa as one of the strategies of building the capacities for strengthening teacher development in Africa. ICTeTSA aims at providing a framework for a teacher’s career and clarifies what progression looks like. It defines the characteristics of teachers at each career stage. Specifically it provides ICT-enhanced standards for the emerging stage, applying stage, infusing stage, and transforming stage. The standards refer to a teacher’s competences stated in terms of his/her professional knowledge, skills and attitudes. ICTeTSA also provides clarity of the expectations at each career stage. (UNESCO-IICBA, 2012).
ICTeTSA is planned around six interrelated broad standards of teachers, namely:
1.) Engage in Instructional Design Processes, 2.) Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning, Innovation and Creativity, 3.) Create and Manage Effective Learning Environments, 4.) Engage in Assessment and Communication of Student Learning, 5.) Engage in Professional Development and Model Ethical Responsibilities, 6.) Understand Subject Matter for Use in Teaching. (UNESCO-IICBA, 2012).
DFID’s (Department for international development) Education Strategy 2010–2015
The DFID focus on a clear and uncomplicated vision which is Quality basic Education for all and remaining committed to the education Millennium Development Goals and to the broader Education for EFA goals. To deliver this vision, they state their main focus on three considered priorities:
Access to a basic education cycle of primary and lower secondary, particularly in fragile and conflict affected states;
Quality of teaching and learning, particularly in basic literacy and numeracy;
Skills to link young people to opportunities and jobs, and to promote growth.
(DFID, 2010).
To support improved access to good quality basic education for all children DFID will:
Allocate most of their bilateral education aid to basic education
Focus on the 72 million primary aged children out of school, including expanding investments in fragile and conflict affected states
They will have education programmes, support the expansion of basic education to lower secondary at affordable costs, including through innovative partnerships with non-state providers
Lastly they will also have education programmes, support supply and demand side strategies. These will include helping to construct 15,000 classrooms a year, increasing access to water and sanitation in schools and removing primary school fees. (DFID, 2010).
Department of basic education – Strategic plan 2011-2014
The Government has decided on 12 outcomes to focus on from the period of 2011 to 2014. The main outcome for their strategic plan is outcome one which is improved quality of basic education. To support the achievement of these goals, five interventions have been stated namely:
Teacher development – Training of teachers and principals
Learner support materials – Providing every learner with textbooks for every subject
Annual National Assessments – Annual Assessments in literacy and numeracy
District Development – promote quality of teaching and learning
Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI) – provide quality education with quality infrastructure
The Department of Education has undertaken ICT as one of the initiatives to implement on the White Paper on e-Education. Information and communications technology is essential to the carrying out of e-education and offers better opportunities to access learning, rectify inequalities and develop better quality of teaching and learning. ICT also enables teachers to give learners extraordinary opportunities for them to develop and take part in lifelong learning. ICT has brought new possibilities into the education factor, but at the same time it has placed more demands on the skills and knowledge of teachers. (Dept. Of Education, 2007)
Teachers need to develop skills to enhance the educational experiences of learners in the classroom while implementing the National Curriculum Statement. Teachers are central to the implementation of the NCS. The challenge for teacher development in ICT is to provide teachers with the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding to successfully integrate ICT into everyday educational practices in a meaningful way. The White Paper on e-Education views ICT development as a process that takes teachers and learners through learning about ICT, learning with ICT and learning through the use of ICT. Teachers are central to the implementation of the NCS. The challenge for teacher development In ICT is to provide teachers with the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding to successfully integrate ICT into everyday educational practices in a meaningful way. The White Paper on e-Education views ICT development as a process that takes teachers and Learners through learning about ICT, learning with ICT and learning through the use of ICT.
(Dept. Of Education, 2007)
Bibliography
Cornu, B. Being a teacher in the knowledge society. France
IFIP.The Stellenbosch Declaration.2005. ICT in Education: Make it work. South Africa.
Education international. 2008. Education for all by 2015.
Wheeler, S. 2000. The role of the teacher in the use of ICT.
[Online] Available url:
file:///F:/New%20folder/ICT%20in%20Education%20%20%20United%20Nations%20Educational,%20Scientific%20and%20Cultural%20Organization.htm
Pearson. 1995. The Pervasiveness of technology.
[Online] Available url:
file:///F:/Chapter%201%C2%A0%C2%A0The%20Pervasiveness%20of%20Technology.htm
UNESCO-IICBA (2012). ICT-enhanced Teacher Standards for Africa. Ethopia. UNESCO – IICBA
Department for international development. (2010). Learning for all. United Kingdom.
RSA, Department of education. 2007. Guidelines for Teacher Training and Professional Development in ICT. Dept. Of Education.
Department of basic education. 2011. Strategic Plan 2011-2014. South Africa.