Information and Communication Technologies in International Education: A Canadian Policy Analysi

The rhetoric surrounding the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in international education speaks of providing education access for all. However, an examination of actual policies reveals an emphasis not on creating an educated population, but on improving economic opportunitie...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Robert C. Aucoin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Simon Fraser University 2011-05-01
Series:International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journals.sfu.ca/ijepl/index.php/ijepl/issue/view/55
Description
Summary:The rhetoric surrounding the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in international education speaks of providing education access for all. However, an examination of actual policies reveals an emphasis not on creating an educated population, but on improving economic opportunities using discourses such as globalization, knowledge economy, and knowledge society. This emphasis creates an imbalance in opportunities for using ICTs in education and presents challenges for international educators. This paper discusses the Canadian International Development Agency’s report, CIDA’s Strategy on Knowledge for Development through Information and Communication Technologies, as an example of how rhetoric does not always meet reality. The paper concludes with four simple recommendations for good ICT practice in developing contexts.
ISSN:1555-5062