Technology Usage and Technology Usage and Management in Zambian Management in Zambian

Schools Schools

ByBy

Mulemwa MoongwaMulemwa Moongwa

Infinite Learning ConsultantsInfinite Learning Consultants

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

eLearning statuseLearning status

Policies promoting eLearningPolicies promoting eLearning

School systemSchool system

Teacher ICT Readiness in ZambiaTeacher ICT Readiness in Zambia

Introduction of ICT’s in the ClassroomIntroduction of ICT’s in the Classroom

Gender in ICT EducationGender in ICT Education

Conclusion Conclusion

Why eLearningWhy eLearning

““Education has changed. Fundamentally. Education has changed. Fundamentally. Because almost everything we know about Because almost everything we know about education is up for grabs: the way it is education is up for grabs: the way it is funded, designed, managed, and even funded, designed, managed, and even delivered. Around the world, wholesale delivered. Around the world, wholesale efforts at education reform are already efforts at education reform are already underway; and … these changes are underway; and … these changes are taking place in “Internet time.” This is the taking place in “Internet time.” This is the new education economy – the global new education economy – the global education economyeducation economy

Policies Promoting ICT in Policies Promoting ICT in Education in ZambiaEducation in Zambia

National ICT Policy ( MCT)National ICT Policy ( MCT)

eLearning (MOE)eLearning (MOE)

FNDP (2006-2010)FNDP (2006-2010)

eLearning Africa PolicieseLearning Africa Policies

ICT PolicyICT Policy

To deploy ICT’s at all levels of the To deploy ICT’s at all levels of the Zambian Education SYSTEMZambian Education SYSTEMModernize the Education Delivery SystemModernize the Education Delivery SystemStrengthen the admin. & decision making Strengthen the admin. & decision making capacity in Edu. Systemcapacity in Edu. SystemPromote local collaboration of R&D Promote local collaboration of R&D systems , to facilitate product systems , to facilitate product development, innovation and delivery of development, innovation and delivery of standardized servicesstandardized services

ICT PolicyICT Policy

to increase the institutional capacity in to increase the institutional capacity in terms of infrastructure and human terms of infrastructure and human resource in public & private colleges/ resource in public & private colleges/ universities that offer ICT Coursesuniversities that offer ICT Courses

increase enrollment in key skillsincrease enrollment in key skills

Address the HR requirements in key Address the HR requirements in key sectorssectors

Digital DivideDigital Divide

The digital divide between African and the The digital divide between African and the developed world is so profound that we can not, developed world is so profound that we can not, with sincerity, talk of a global digital village. We with sincerity, talk of a global digital village. We are a world living apart from each other.are a world living apart from each other.

In 2004 1 internet user for every 250-400 in In 2004 1 internet user for every 250-400 in AfricaAfrica

Developed 1: 15Developed 1: 15

ICT will not answer all our challenges but it ICT will not answer all our challenges but it brings new opportunitiesbrings new opportunities

Teachers and ICT in ZambiaTeachers and ICT in Zambia

Traditionally focal point in classroom.Traditionally focal point in classroom.

Shift from teacher being master.Shift from teacher being master.

Most vital component for successful technology Most vital component for successful technology integration.integration.

Teachers immediate needsTeachers immediate needs

Governments allocation of scarce resourcesGovernments allocation of scarce resources

Rural TeachersRural Teachers

Mindset change in teachersMindset change in teachers

Teachers (Case Study)Teachers (Case Study)

38 Teachers 38 Teachers Only 20 % of teachers were literateOnly 20 % of teachers were literateOnly 3 teachers were “internet literate”Only 3 teachers were “internet literate”VandalismVandalismLack of support from school Heads ( computer illiterate Lack of support from school Heads ( computer illiterate superiors)superiors)Lack of Support from fellow teachersLack of Support from fellow teachers Lack of continuous Education and exposure to Lack of continuous Education and exposure to practices practices Embarrassing to have conversant learnersEmbarrassing to have conversant learnersTimetabling issuesTimetabling issuesMotivationMotivation

Teachers- Way ForwardTeachers- Way Forward

Human touch is irreplaceableHuman touch is irreplaceableAble and willing if right approach is takenAble and willing if right approach is takenContinuous LearningContinuous LearningUpgrade of other skillsUpgrade of other skillsTechnical skills Training to build IT Technical skills Training to build IT Managers within the schoolsManagers within the schoolsBridge Knowledge gapsBridge Knowledge gapsIncreasing usage of technologies by Increasing usage of technologies by teachersteachers

HIGHER

EDUCATION

HIGHER

EDUCATION

SECONDARY SCHOOLSECONDARY SCHOOL

PRE SCHOOL, PRIMARY SCHOOLPRE SCHOOL, PRIMARY SCHOOL

CLASSROOM CLASSROOM

Classroom- LearnerClassroom- Learner

Paradigm shit- learner is knowledge Paradigm shit- learner is knowledge seeker with constant changing needs.seeker with constant changing needs.Viewed as subjectViewed as subjectNo curriculum or bridge of skillsNo curriculum or bridge of skillsWhen it comes to ICT learners are quicker When it comes to ICT learners are quicker than teachers due to than teachers due to curiosity, imagination curiosity, imagination and adventure and adventure Learners live digitally and learn analogue Learners live digitally and learn analogue style.style.

CLASSROOMCLASSROOM

Misinterpretation of eLearning effects on Misinterpretation of eLearning effects on the classroom.the classroom.

Computer lab onlyComputer lab only

No content/ no bridge of application skills No content/ no bridge of application skills and mainstream activitiesand mainstream activities

Integration of solutionsIntegration of solutions

Computing skills Computing skills

Education TechnologiesEducation Technologies

Blended LearningBlended Learning

Blended learning is essentially a combination of old and new learning practices, blended into a seamless experience that realises the many benefits of e-learning but incorporating the human facilitation and coaching process into the delivery of learning

Gender in the ClassroomGender in the Classroom

NO!NO! It is not a code name for women. It is not a code name for women.

gender equality is equal status for women and men, gender equality is equal status for women and men, involving equal conditions for both to realize their full involving equal conditions for both to realize their full human rights and potential to contribute to national, human rights and potential to contribute to national, political, economic, social, and cultural development, and political, economic, social, and cultural development, and to benefit from the results.to benefit from the results. Gender equality therefore involves equal choice, Gender equality therefore involves equal choice, control, and opportunities around the resources and control, and opportunities around the resources and benefits of development for both men and women. benefits of development for both men and women. It is also characterized by the "equal valuing by society It is also characterized by the "equal valuing by society of both the similarities and differences between women of both the similarities and differences between women and men, and the varying roles that they play”. and men, and the varying roles that they play”.

Why women?Why women?

"women's empowerment" is the recognition that "women's empowerment" is the recognition that women are disadvantaged in access to women are disadvantaged in access to education and resources, and that “education and resources, and that “

the empowerment and autonomy of women and the empowerment and autonomy of women and the improvement of their political, social, the improvement of their political, social, economic and health status is both a highly economic and health status is both a highly important end in itself and necessary for the important end in itself and necessary for the achievement of sustainable human achievement of sustainable human development.“ development.“

Gender Gender

Central and necessary for women Central and necessary for women empowermentempowerment

Exclusion has been both deliberate and Exclusion has been both deliberate and culturalcultural

Lack of freedom of movement or low Lack of freedom of movement or low levels of education in womenlevels of education in women

In the context of ICT, In the context of ICT, Women empowerment inWomen empowerment in knowledge societies knowledge societies

entails building up abilities and skills of women entails building up abilities and skills of women to gain insight into the issues affecting them and to gain insight into the issues affecting them and also building up their capacity to voice their also building up their capacity to voice their concerns. It entails developing the capacities of concerns. It entails developing the capacities of women to overcome social and institutional women to overcome social and institutional barriers and strengthening their participation in barriers and strengthening their participation in the economic and political process so as to the economic and political process so as to produce an overall improvement in their quality produce an overall improvement in their quality of lifeof life””

Technology is gender Technology is gender neutral isn’t it?neutral isn’t it?

ICT's have long been believed to be ICT's have long been believed to be gender neutral but, contradictorily, the ICT gender neutral but, contradictorily, the ICT sector is primarily a male domain.sector is primarily a male domain.ICT for development frameworks and ICT for development frameworks and initiatives that do not incorporate gender initiatives that do not incorporate gender as a key factor and concern run the risk of as a key factor and concern run the risk of widening inequalities between women and widening inequalities between women and men.men.

Gender Gender

By singling girls are we discriminating By singling girls are we discriminating boys? Noboys? No

Women in developing countries have more Women in developing countries have more pressing needs such as food, shelter and pressing needs such as food, shelter and healthcare , WHY prioritize ICT?healthcare , WHY prioritize ICT?

GENDER in the WorkplaceGENDER in the Workplace

Higher Education should encourage women to Higher Education should encourage women to enroll in ICT Training through awareness of enroll in ICT Training through awareness of benefits and discountsbenefits and discounts

TeleworkingTeleworking

Outsourced jobsOutsourced jobs

Most senior jobs in ICT are still held by men.Most senior jobs in ICT are still held by men.

Certification is the accepted benchmark as proof Certification is the accepted benchmark as proof of knowledge and competence. Certified of knowledge and competence. Certified individual should progress regardless of genderindividual should progress regardless of gender

GenderGender

The potential of ICT for women in The potential of ICT for women in developing countries is highly dependant developing countries is highly dependant upon their levels of technical skills and upon their levels of technical skills and Education of benefits and awarenessEducation of benefits and awareness

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Key factors-:

technology planning and policies;

finance;

equipment and infrastructure;

technology applications (software and systems);

maintenance and support;

professional development and training; and

technology integration

ReferencesReferences

Zambian National ICT PolicyZambian National ICT Policy

ICT and changing mindsets- Dramane,ICT and changing mindsets- Dramane,