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Preceding the conference, there will be a week-long Summer School for Ph.D. students
in related fields, organized at Tumaini University, Iringa. The Ph.D. Summer School
is organized by The International Multidisciplinary PhD Studies in Educational Technology (IMPDET).
The Ph.D. Summer School will have two tracks:
1) Cross-cultural development considerations: Discovering the invisible, and understanding for the first time (6-7 July)
2) ICT for development: an educational perspective (8-9 July)
Cross-cultural development considerations: Discovering the invisible, and understanding for the first time
By: Clint Rogers
Description:
Much of the reason that ICT for development has not been as successful as intended has much to do with the upfront research and sensitivity developers put into learning about socio-cultural context. There are many things that remain invisible to us about ourselves which are often different from those who are from other socio-cultural backgrounds (for example, what we expect from certain situations like education, health care, family relations, and so on). Whether we like it or not, if we are not more conscious of them, implicit assumptions are made which can adversely impact the implementation and usefulness of whatever intervention is being presented. This track will focus on helping you become more aware of what some of your own implicit assumptions might be (in regards to technology, culture, education, economics, ethics, and so on). Hands-on activities and safe, open discussions will assist in discovering how your assumptions and expectations might differ from both other conference participants and the people of Tanzania. Discussion will revolve around how to deal with these concerns when working with development initiatives. As we all learn from each other and the local people during this enlightening session, it will provide a critical foundations in preparation for Track 2 and for the rest of the TEDC conference.
Methods:
Introduction of the theme with a review of some of the cross-cultural research that has been conducted;
Mediation in groups regarding participants' own background, differences, and assumptions about the people of Tanzania;
Hands on field work through activities such as those in Rapid (or Participatory) Rural Appraisal;
Debriefing and ideation work for future research and articles
Schedule:
This track will be organized on 6-7 July.
Bio:
P. Clint Rogers completed his PhD in Instructional Psychology and Technology at Brigham Young University. He has published and presented much and worked for several international organizations. His specific research interests include the cultural customization of online learning, the philosophical roots of education and science, and the impact of media and technological diffusion in development, social change, and advocacy. Email: clint.rogers2008@gmail.com
ICT for development: an educational perspective
by Erkki Sutinen
ICT for development is a field closely related to educational technology. ICT, if relevant to its surroundings, should act as an agent of change. This requires a close collaboration between its expert designers and potential future users which at the time of design are usually ICT-illiterate. Creativity, inter-cultural communication and commitment are prerequisites for success. The role of researchers is apparent in the process, but needs to change in nature. The summer school will provide its participants with a forum to re-identify their roles as promoters of ICT with a developing power, in an authentic setting of a rural African city.
Methods:
- introduction to the theme as represented at international forums during the past years
- opportunities of ICT for achieving the Millennium Goals via educational applications
- case stories presented by participants, and analyses thereof in groups
- ideating or preparing a scholarly paper on the theme
Schedule: The track will be organized on 8-9 July.
Bio
Erkki Sutinen, Ph.D., is a professor of Computer Science at the University of Joensuu, Finland. He is the leader of the edTechΔ research group (www.cs.joensuu.fi/edtech). His research area is Computer Science education and educational technology. He has published tens of research papers on program visualization, educational technology in developing countries, distance education, design and evaluation methods for learning environments, string algorithms, tools for creative problem solving, concept mapping, and computers in special needs education.
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