This presentation discusses the integration of educational technology in developing countries. It explores whether technology widens or narrows socioeconomic gaps, and if it is a tool of de-colonization or re-colonization. A brief history shows how educational technology has evolved from top-down radio/TV programs to bottom-up tools like audio/video tapes to today's interactive internet and mobile technologies. However, developing nations still face challenges like limited resources, infrastructure, and local content that contribute to a "digital divide". The One Laptop Per Child project and potential of m-learning are also examined.

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2. Educational Technology
and the
Developing World
Peter
Takach
EDPS 422

3. Educational
Technology

4. Key Questions
Does integration of educational
technology narrow or widen
socioeconomic gaps?
Is educational technology a tool
of de-colonization or a tool of
re-colonization?

5. 50s & 60s: Gov’ts & NGOs
Top-down
Unidirectional
Radio & TV programs
70s & 80s Individuals & Schools
Bottom up
Brief History Self-reliant
Audio & Video tapes
90s & 00s Everybody (*)
All directions
Interactive
Internet/Cell phones
“Digital divide”

6. Digital Divide
ESTIMATED WORLD TECHNOLOGY USE (CIA Worldbook)
Country Population (2012) Cell Phones (2009) % of Pop Internet Users (2009) % of Pop
China 1,343,239,923 986,253,000 73% 389,000,000 29%
India 1,205,073,612 893,862,000 74% 61,338,000 5%
United States 313,847,465 290,300,000 92% 245,000,000 78%
Nigeria 170,123,740 95,167,000 56% 43,989,000 26%
Brazil 199,321,413 24,435,800 12% 75,982,000 38%
Canada 34,300,083 27,387,000 80% 26,960,000 79%
Afghanistan 30,419,928 17,558,000 58% 1,000,000 3%
Indonesia 248,645,008 249,800,000 100% 20,000,000 8%
Haiti 9,801,664 4,200,000 43% 1,000,000 10%
Somalia 10,085,638 655,000 6% 106,000 0%

7. Distance Learning

8. Equal playing field
Limited financial
resources Limited Teacher
Education
Lack of Local
Content

9. Accessibility
Technical/Infrastructural
Issues
Limited financial
resources Limited Teacher
Education
Lack of Local
Content

10. The answer to the
global education crisis
Or
“technologically Utopian
One Laptop Per development scheme”?
Child Project

11. • Founded in 2004 in America
• Mission: “to provide each child
with a rugged, low-cost, low-power,
connected laptop”
• “The gods must be crazy”
approach
• XO laptop: 209 US$
One Laptop Per
Child Project

12. • First country to equip
100% of primary
students with laptops in
2009
• 395,000 primary students
• Lack of training and
support
• Only 21% of teachers
report using these a
daily or near daily basis
One Laptop Per
Child Project: URUGUAY

13. M-Learning
ESTIMATED WORLD TECHNOLOGY USE (CIA Worldbook)
Country Population (2012) Cell Phones (2009) % of Pop
• Over 6 billion cell • M-learning is the use of cell
China 1,343,239,923 986,253,000 73%
India 1,205,073,612 893,862,000 74%
phone subscriptions phones or other mobile
United States 313,847,465 290,300,000 92%
(in a world of 7 devices for education
Nigeria 170,123,740 95,167,000 56%
Brazil 199,321,413 24,435,800 12%
million). Canada 34,300,083 27,387,000 80%
Afghanistan 30,419,928 17,558,000 58%
Indonesia 248,645,008 249,800,000 100%
• Faster, cheaper and Haiti
• But again, challenges
9,801,664 4,200,000 43%
Somalia 10,085,638 655,000 6%
more reliable than such as accessibility,
computers. Many have data, and
them already and know infrastructure.
how to use them. Mobile!

14. Discussion Questions
Does integration of educational
technology narrow or widen
socioeconomic gaps?
Is educational technology a tool
of de-colonization or a tool of
re-colonization?

15. Questions?

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