The document discusses ICT strategies and training programs in Jordanian schools. It outlines that over 1650 schools have basic computer equipment and internet connectivity with the goal of connecting all public schools by 2003. The Ministry of Education aims to incorporate ICT and develop 21st century skills through its training programs. A strategic training pyramid was designed to identify priorities and position various ICT training projects based on target sectors and course levels. The summary highlights key ICT training programs mentioned including ICDL literacy certification, Cisco CCNA certification, and Microsoft and Intel teacher training initiatives.

1. ICT - JORDAN Ministry of Education Amman The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

2. Introduction The Ministry of Education has realized the importance of focusing on the human capital development factors in line with the future knowledge-based world economies. The Government of Jordan placed this as the highest among priorities for the country. This priority was indeed portrayed by His Majesty’s presence and active participation in the recent Education and high profile ICT Forums.

3. The Ministry of Education will continue the reform of its educational system, with emphasis on the incorporation of ICT, effective long-term usage of ICT in e-learning and eventually sustainable infrastructure for life–long learning. Skills of the future: critical & creative thinking, problem solving and orientation towards research will be integrated in its ICT and training programs, rendering a richer and wider spectrum of benefits on all levels in the educational hierarchy. The ICT training, leading this change, is in parallelism with the development of curricula, built-up of technological infrastructure, increased connectivity and development of assessment methodologies and examinations procedures.

4. Currently, more than 1650 schools are equipped with PCs, networking and basic peripherals, in more than 1724 labs. It is expected to have about 1100 secondary schools, selected from different directorates, connected to the Internet by year-end, as part of an agreement between MOE and JTC. Other public schools will be connected thereafter at the rate of about 200 schools per month, in efforts to achieve full connectivity of all public schools by December 2003. Four schools have video conferencing facilities

5. ICT Strategies In order to assess the training needs of the Ministry, a draft pyramid (hereunder), was designed so that various training projects are positioned and fitted in, in line with the target sectors, levels of courseware, and tied up whenever possible to the ranking system, thus providing added incentives. This pyramid also serves in identifying and honoring priorities.

6. GUIDELINES · Efficient usage of the technology infrastructure of distributed computers, peripherals, teaching aids, networks, Internet connectivity, software, electronic and hard copy training material at the Ministry, Directorates and schools. · Effective usage of ICT as a tool in teaching and learning, with long-term vision leading to life-long learning readiness and receptiveness. · Mentoring and demonstration of the new skills and concepts in order to assist and guide new trends. · Dependence of capacity building projects and training schemes, such as those based on Training-of-the-Trainers with long-term vision plans, so as to reach a state of self-sustainability and autonomy. · Follow-up on all ICT training and ensuring that trainees are implementing what they have been trained on.

7. · Adopt programs that have International Certification. · Develop online content and proper full usage of the upcoming e-portal system, which has the potential of putting Jordan at the Number One position in designing and implementing such a comprehensive e-portal that connects all of its educational system in the country, at various levels. . Adopt appropriate measures, monitoring and evaluation systems for continuously assessing and evaluating the e-learning experience. Stay updated with global ICT trends; particularly those pertaining to educational systems and continuously track Jordan’s relative progress to such global trends.

8. ICT TRAINING ICT Skills have become the demand of the future, led by the Internet-related IT skills as number one, tied up to an exponential growth. There will also be a tremendous demand for Web-based applications, seconded by networking and programming skills. Anyone who wants to get a good job will have to have IT literacy.

9. Hereunder is a list of IT projects that are either being implemented or under study at the PMU / ICT Unit with the E-Learning Team and related Directories . ICT Literacy: ICDL . Cyberlearning . Cisco Sys. Inc.® - CCNA Certification . Pc Maintenance . Microsoft : MCSE . Microsoft : MCAD.NET . Microsoft : MOUS . Intel ® – Teach to the Future Project . INHOLLAND ICT-E Schooling . Schools Online . iEARN . Executrain . World Bank Links . Jordan Kuwait Bank . Jordan-Untied States Business Partnership (JUSBP) . NetCorps

10. ICT LITERACY: ICDL A 7 modules course, corresponding to 112 hours of Microsoft Office Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint, preceded by a very basic Introduction to PCs and Windows Environment and ending with the usage of the Internet as the 7th, module. Online interactive content, is under consideration, and will be availed in both the Arabic and English Languages.

11. CYBERLEARNING CyberLearning is a non-profit organization providing trainees with high quality online courses in IT and management, in conjunction with a state-of-the-art Learning Management System (LMS) that allows for customized tracking, reporting and assessing. Its establishment has been in address to the digital divide or other known as “ the growing gap between the haves and have-nots in the age of information technology ” and the growing needs for training people in the fast-moving information technology. The courses cover pretty much all the different IT topics at all levels, such as: basic PC courses, Internet courses, Microsoft Office, Lotus, C+, Visual Basic, Oracle, MCSE, Cisco, Web design, HTML, Cold Fusion, Internet application, e-commerce and A+. This is done in a user-friendly interface and online help.

12. CISCO SYS. INC.® - CCNA CERTIFICATION Cisco Systems, Inc.® Internet Protocol-based (IP) networking solution is the foundation of the Internet and most corporate, educational, and governmental networks around the world. Cisco Sys. Inc. ® is also positioned as a worldwide leader in networking. It offers various tracks of training and certification. The strategic movement towards total connectivity among all public schools, with thousands of local area networks, is generating consequent needs of the appropriately and professionally trained team of Ministry staff, who are capable of configuring, operating, managing and continuously maintaining and upgrading these networks with optimal performance and security levels.

13. PC MAINTENANCE PC, peripherals, network and operating system maintenance customized to include: A+, Network+, core Microsoft 2050 & 2051. A+ is considered as a core subject and prerequisite for many programs and is being offered free of charge to students in some countries. The aggregate of selected subjects would ensure a wide spectrum of readiness towards handling troubleshooting and cater for the urgent need to train 120 on maintenance and support of PC’s, networks, peripherals and basic system technical support and troubleshooting handling, throughout the Kingdom

14. Microsoft Microsoft, through will train schoolteachers and staff, based on the Train-the-Trainer initiative, on these tracks: · Microsoft Certified System Engineers (MCSE) · MCAD.NET track and certification. · Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS).

15. Intel ® – Teach to the Future Project His Majesty King Abdullah met with Intel Corporation’s CEO Craig Barrett in 2001 and later on in 2002. Two programs supporting education in Jordan materialized. The I-Lab, based at the University of Jordan and the Intel Teach to the Future Program to be implemented via the Ministry of Education in Jordan for the next three years, 2003 – 2006 Intel ® – Teach to the Future is a worldwide effort to help prepare today’s teachers and students for tomorrow’s demands, via extensive teacher training programs aiming at effective use of technology in the classroom

16. EXECUTRAIN The management of Executrain Center has conveyed 20 complimentary seats for a 30 hours ICT Literacy program. 20 administrators, Managers and Schools joined this course. All Feedback Comments were very positive pertaining to the training operation as a whole and trainees were satisfied with their ICT “Ice-breaker” course.

17. Information & Communications Technology (ICT) Training Programme Project Management Unit (PMU) THANK YOU