ICT Revolutionizing Education

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has proved to be one of the key drivers of change in education. In higher education particularly, ICT is enabling educators, educational developers and institutions to 'reach out' to learners, using innovative approaches based on the flexibility, accessibility and diversity that it offers. This book is based on the experiences of expert educational developers from the UK, United States, Canada, South Africa and Malaysia. It considers the ways in which ICT can be used to enhance learning both on and off campus, and how educators and institutions have tackled the issues associated with the adoption of new approaches and technologies. However, as the development of new technology is relentless, the book recognizes that ICT is not a panacea in itself -- good teaching remains crucial to good education. With this in mind, the contributors address issues beyond 'technology', looking at the importance of teaching and at the skills of teachers themselves if ICT is to be truly successful. Coverage is grouped into four key themes: *strategic issues for ICT initiatives *introducing ICT into the classroom *using ICT in practice *using ICT in learning and educational support International in scope, and written by educators and educational developers rather than by technologists, this book is intended to be accessible to anyone with a critical interest in improving education through the use of ICT. It will be of particular interest to staff and educational developers, ICT coordinators, course leaders and course developers.

With increasing global challenges, the Belt and Road initiative seems to offer one possible platform to think about different possibilities and pathways to promote international collaboration and development covering Asia, Europe, Africa, and other countries. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education, as a key focus, provides valuable perspectives for governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental agencies wanting to innovate and advance both ICT and education independently and collaboratively. This book highlights the burgeoning of ICT in education in eleven countries, with particular emphasis placed on the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. ICT has increasingly important roles in education including improve teaching and learning qualities, as well as equity in education. The prominent contributors describe the state-of-the-art of ICT in education in eleven countries based on six major themes (policy perspectives, infrastructure, educational resources, ICT integration into practices, students’ ICT competence, and teachers’ professional development). We hope the in-depth discussions included in this book would provoke more academic and policy insights globally.

"This book is a pivotal reference source for the latest scholarly research on the implementation of emerging technologies in contemporary classroom setting, highlighting theoretical foundations, empirical case studies, and curriculum development strategies"--

This book presents a peer reviewed selection of extended versions of ten original papers that were presented at the 15th International Symposium on Computers in Education (SIIE 2013) held in Viseu, Portugal. The book provide a representative view of current Information and Communications Technology (ICT) educational research approaches in the Ibero-American context as well as internationally. It includes studies that range from elementary to higher education, from traditional to distance learning settings. It considers special needs and other inclusive issues, across a range of disciplines, using multiple and diverse perspectives and technologies to furnish detailed information on the latest trends in ICT and education globally. Design, development and evaluation of educational software; ICT use and evaluation methodologies; social web and collaborative systems; and learning communities are some of the topics covered.

This volume provides examples of current developments on the role of ICT for education, development, and social justice within an international context. Chapters draw on advanced contemporary thinking from scholars and practitioners in the field to present case studies of how ICT can be used to promote sustainable development and social justice. Social justice is understood in a wide sense as the pursuit of democracy, justice and development in the struggle against any form of oppression; it is within this context that ICT is explored as a tool for social change. The objectives of this book are: - To analyze the philosophical, historical, political, and cultural backgrounds and contexts that are constitutive of contemporary challenges and tensions in the role of ICT for education, development, and social justice around the world; - To appreciate the contextual and international dimensions of the tensions and challenges faced by educators around the world and contribute to ongoing efforts to sketch a vision for addressing their needs; - To explore ways in which ICT in education can promote social justice and contribute toward sustaining communities around the world

In this timely and accessible book, Chris Abbott examines the process by which ICT, and in particular its role in relation to literacy, has become central to national educational policies.