Connecting Community with Knowledge: Novel Strategy of ICT Convergence

Abstract

Access to ICT and ICT-supported educational experiences potentially offers learners valuable opportunities to learn new skills and new competencies for effective functioning in the twenty-first century, and should arguably become part of the entitlement of citizens. It is also on the basis that large amounts of money have been allocated to the realization of IT-in-education master plans in many countries. However, success in implementation depends greatly on the understanding and readiness of the many stakeholders involved in the process. On the other hand, the shelf-life of ICT products and configurations is generally very short. A strongly ICT infrastructure-led development plan may thus lead to wastage of valuable resources if the teachers are not prepared, or if the understanding of the purpose is merely a technological one, such that the impact of the introduction of technology becomes rather limited.