"This publication provides a selection of literacy programmes that use radio, TV, mobile phones, tablets and computers to support the development of literacy, numeracy and language skills. Due to continuous demand, the second edition of the publication has been updated with new case studies. All pro
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grammes included in this publication are also available on UNESCO’s Effective Literacy and Numeracy Practices database (LitBase). This database allows users to identify trends, challenges and lessons learnt in applying ICTs to literacy teaching and learning worldwide. The programmes share valuable examples of how ICTs can be used creatively and innovatively to complement face-to-face adult literacy teaching. They highlight the prerequisites that must be met to reach the full potential of ICTs." (Foreword)
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"ICT have a high potential for education system strengthening, despite the particular obstacles that exist in conflict and crisis settings. Enabling education systems, for example, involves the use of mobile money transfers to ensure teachers receive regular salaries. Two-way communication systems u
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sing SMS (text messaging) over mobile phones promote safe learning spaces by informing parents, guardians, and young people directly about danger near schools. ICT is also being used for data collection about students, teachers, schools, and the larger education infrastructure. However, the project landscape shows much more room for growth with regard to ICT for education system strengthening in conflict and crisis. The two major areas of programmatic focus in ICT for education in crisis and conflict are teacher training and student learning. A characteristic of programs working in postsecondary education – including higher education, teacher training, and vocational training – is that they are using multiple tools for teaching and learning, which gives learners varied opportunities for participation in unstable contexts. This includes the use of locally existing technologies, such as mobile phones. Overall, blended learning is an important component of education at the post-secondary level. The examined case studies also confirm that human resources and teachers are still crucial to the success of educational initiatives and projects. Good blended learning practices involve using technology to support face-to-face learning." (Executive summary)
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"In Spider Stories 2012 you will get an overview of results from Spider projects initiated in 2011-2012 in collaboration with project partners in Cambodia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. In partnership with local organizations, we have supported innovative projects in democracy, education, and
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health. Our project partners have also explored Spider’s crosscutting themes, from Free and Open Source Software and mobiles for development to cultural creativity and youth empowerment. Spider Stories 2012 is in the format of “storytelling” to capture the voices of our project partners as well as the ultimate beneficiaries of their efforts: ordinary people in different social settings." (Spider website)
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"This sampler is the result of a common research project of 16 Latin American universities and the Informatics Network of the Catholic Church in Latin America (RIIAL) on "the impact of digital culture in the Latin American societies". The first part consists of seven contributions studying the use o
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f and access to social media and ICTs by young people, especially university students, in Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Panama and Paraguay. The second part, also consisting of seven articles, covers quite different issues like the "One Laptop per Child" initiative in Peru, "socio-affective capacities" in e-learning in Colombia or a reflection on the evangelisation mission of the Church. The articles differ widely in scope and methodology, as there was no agreed research framework. Nevertheless, the contributions are a helpful stocktaking of digital culture in a variety of country and cultural contexts." (CAMECO Update 1-2012)
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"Although many countries are aggressively implementing the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) program, there is a lack of empirical evidence on its effects. This paper presents the impact of the first large-scale randomized evaluation of the OLPC program, using data collected after 15 months of implementat
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ion in 319 primary schools in rural Peru. The results indicate that the program increased the ratio of computers per student from 0.12 to 1.18 in treatment schools. This expansion in access translated into substantial increases in use both at school and at home. No evidence is found of effects on enrollment and test scores in Math and Language. Some positive effects are found, however, in general cognitive skills as measured by Raven’s Progressive Matrices, a verbal fluency test and a Coding test." (Abstract)
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"Significant progress has been made in regional agreements, providing a suitable frame of reference for a social approach to the care model. Although adjustments are required to harmonize domestic norms with international referents, much remains to be done for educational norms in the regions to ado
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pt provisions promoting educational inclusion according to the commitments acquired by ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Human rights are evolving positively under constitutional frameworks and in laws on education and disability. In Central America and some countries of the Caribbean, general education laws take persons with disabilities into account through special education (with the exception of Panama). The same trend can be observed in national Constitutions. This improves in national laws on disability, which are more specific and favor inclusive education or include both modalities. In all three regions, there is no regulatory framework or specific policies on digital inclusion, much less on the use of ICTs for persons with disabilities. There are some isolated attempts to implement ICTs in all sectors of society. Issues of accessibility, the right to education and the use of technologies by persons with disabilities are not well integrated." (Conclusions from the study, page 68-69)
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"Significant progress has been made in regional agreements, providing a suitable frame of reference for a social approach to the care model. Although adjustments are required to harmonize domestic norms with international referents, much remains to be done for educational norms in the regions to ado
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pt provisions promoting educational inclusion according to the commitments acquired by ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Human rights are evolving positively under constitutional frameworks and in laws on education and disability. In Central America and some countries of the Caribbean, general education laws take persons with disabilities into account through special education (with the exception of Panama). The same trend can be observed in national Constitutions. This improves in national laws on disability, which are more specific and favor inclusive education or include both modalities. In all three regions, there is no regulatory framework or specific policies on digital inclusion, much less on the use of ICTs for persons with disabilities. There are some isolated attempts to implement ICTs in all sectors of society. Issues of accessibility, the right to education and the use of technologies by persons with disabilities are not well integrated." (Conclusions from the study, página 68-69)
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"This report provides the results of an evaluation of a CRS adult education program and a mobile phone-based adult education pilot program in Niger. The study found that students in the villages where the pilot project was carried out used mobile phones more frequently and in more “active” ways,
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particularly by making calls and writing texts, which require more advanced letter and number recognition than for simply receiving calls. Students also had higher math scores after the program was over." (www.crs.org)
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"Cet ouvrage a pour ambition de poser les bases d'une réflexion globale sur les enjeux actuels de l'informatisation de la RDC : quels bénéfices et avantages la RDC tirera-t-elle d'une informatisation de toute la société ? A l'inverse, quels sont les effets pervers et autres manques qui résulte
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nt de la pauvreté numérique ? Comment l'Etat peut-il s'engager dans cette logique de numérisation de façon stratégique et prospective ?" (Description de la maison d'édition)
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"Following an initiative of the Committee on Economic Co-operation and Development, the Office of Technology Assessment (TAB) at the German Bundestag (i.e. the German parliament) has carried out a project on the relevance of the Internet and other new information and communication technologies (ICTs
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) for social advancement in developing countries. This final report documents the results of the project. [...] In the first place, the report analyses and discusses the use of ICT and how it can contribute to social development in the context of the situation in developing countries. Secondly, a more detailed examination is undertaken of contributions relating in particular to the areas of democracy, good governance and civil society, of industry and trade, and of education, research and technological development. Thirdly, the results of these analyses are used to draw conclusions about concrete and strategic courses of action and challenges for German development co-operation within the context of general issues relevant to research and education policy." (Preface)
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"ICT4D provides an authoritative account of the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in contemporary development practice. It combines theory with practical guidance – including both a conceptual framework for understanding the rapid development of ICT4D. Case studies provide d
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etailed examples of issues and initiatives from a variety of countries and organisations. ICTs are becoming increasingly significant in improving the impacts of development practice. However, ICT4D projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America have not always been as effective as their proponents had hoped. This book explores both the successes and the challenges facing such initiatives, and provides clear recommendations for how they can be developed in more sustainable ways for the benefit of poor people and marginalised communities." (Publisher description)
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