信息技术关照下的教育变革

信息技术给大家带来了开放的心态、自由的知识与新颖的方法，但同时也给教育功能、教育内容、教育方法以及教育者角色定位带来一场巨大的变革。对新事物的接受与对旧事物的革命历来都是痛苦的，教育领域对信息技术的接受与对旧教育方式及体制的革新也不例外。本文正是在欢迎信息时代到来的背景下，谈谈教育在信息技术关照下发生的诸多痛苦和一些尴尬的问题，并企图提出解决这些问题的若干个人建议。 一、信息技术对学校管理的优化与冲击 在学校管理中，学校行政人员普遍存在对信息技术的担忧与抵触的情绪。与学校学生对信息技术的认可与接受…     

Breakthroughs in Information and Communication Technologies Part III

In Part 1 of this series of articles, I defined what is meant by a breakthrough in ICT and listed fourteen breakthroughs in chronological order. Subsequently, nine breakthroughs were detailed in Parts 1 and 2. In this concluding part, I describe the last five breakthroughs: search engines, digitization and compression, mobile computers, cloud computing, and deep learning.     

Breakthroughs in Information and Communication Technologies Part I

Since the appearance of the first commercial digital computer, there have been many breakthroughs in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) that have led to profound changes in the way we live. We heavily depend on computers today – from hailing cabs and sending mail to searching for information, performing advanced research, and a myriad of applications. This is due to numerous breakthroughs in ICT. In this series of articles, I first propose six criteria to classify an advancement in ICT as a breakthrough. I list fourteen breakthroughs in ICT in chronological order, describe briefly how each of them evolved, and explain why I consider each of them as a breakthrough. In this first part of a three-part series, I discuss five breakthroughs: FORTRAN, Integrated Circuits, Relational Database Management Systems, Local Area Networks, and Personal Computers.     

Breakthroughs in Information and Communication Technologies Part II

In Part 1 of this series of articles, I defined what is meant by a breakthrough in ICT, listed fourteen breakthroughs in chronological order, and described five breakthroughs. In this second part of the three-part series of articles on Breakthroughs in Information and Communication Technologies, I describe four more breakthroughs: Computer Graphics, Internet, Global Positioning Systems, and the World WideW eb. As in the last part, I will justify why I consider them as breakthroughs and briefly describe each of them.     

Universities and New Information and Communication Technologies: Issues and Strategies

In 1995, the International Association of Universities( IAU) created, within its Board, a Task Force on Universities and Information Technologies. This Task Force is composed of eminent personalities from the academic world. At two recent meetings held in 1997, it examined some of the challenges facing universities in the new information society. This paper summarizes the main questions concerning the impact of information and communication technologies on universities, mainly the benefits of, and limitations to, the use of information technologies in teaching, learning and research. It ends with concluding remarks from the IA U Task Force and a number of recommendations as to what strategies to adopt.     

对信息与通信技术在教学中作用的反思

信息与通讯技术（ICT）在教学中应用越来越广，但是，技术并没有在教学中发挥人们所想象的那种作用。从教师的角度看，技术革命、技术威胁、技术无用等观念和教师的技术能力在一定程度上影响了ICT的使用以及使用方式；从学校支持的角度看，资金投入、课程安排、职称评定和技术保障在很多时候影响了ICT在教学中的应用；从政策法规来看，知识产权在某些方面阻碍了数字环境中ICT对信息的利用。要充分开发教学中的技术资源，就有必要对技术的本质和怎样利用技术进行反思。     

Introducing Information and Communication Technologies into Schools: The blurring of boundaries

This article considers the impact of Superhighways technology on schools in the UK, in terms of the debate concerning the development of the conditions of postmodernity. In particular, it charts how the collapse of boundaries associated with postmodernism may have affected traditional divisions within schooling, following the introduction of broadband connectivity and Internet capability to schools and colleges. The authors review the broad approaches taken to the introduction of new technologies, such as the Utopian and Dystopian, transformative and incrementalist. By drawing upon the findings of the Education Departments' Superhighways Initiative, the authors explore the effects of new information and communication technologies on a number of traditional boundaries, including those between curriculum subjects, between pupils and teachers, and, more generally, traditional conceptions of space and time. The article concludes that, although initial indications suggest that the impact of Superhighways capability may be a transformative one, the effect on boundaries is mixed. While some boundaries such as those of space and time seem to be dissolving, others such as the division between academic subjects are much more resistant.     

Occupational Stress in British Educational Settings: a review

This paper reviews studies on occupational stress among teachers in British schools carried out over the last 15 years. Four major themes are considered: (1) the prevalence of self‐reported occupational stress; (2) sources of stress; (3) symptoms and effects of stress; and (4) coping actions. The reviewed studies have investigated these themes in various teacher samples ranging from mainstream to special schoolteachers, heads of departments, deputy heads and head teachers. It is argued that, in view of the recent and ongoing changes in schools and their curricula as well as the prevailing working conditions of teachers, our present understanding of stress in teaching needs to be based on updated information. Some recommendations for future research are also set out.     

The Role of Information and Communication Technologies in Integrated Career Information and Guidance Systems: A Policy Perspective

The evolution of ICT, and the ways in which it is currently used in the delivery of career information and guidance services, are examined. Such systems have the potential both to expand and to restrict access to career information and guidance. Ways in which ICT can complement and/or be integrated with other ways of providing career services are explored. Finally, a number of key policy issues relating to the role of ICT in national and regional career information and guidance systems are identified, including issues relating to funding and quality assurance. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Children's Participation in Evaluating the Role of New Information and Communication Technologies in Schools

The central thesis of the paper is that children should be accorded a greater role in the evaluation of the role of new information technologies in schools, that is, where possible they should be stakeholders who help shape the design, processes and interpretations of evaluation studies as well as informants who provide data for the study. Arguments for this position draw on children's special relationship with the new technologies as well as current movements in children's rights and the development of a new paradigm of childhood studies. The paper finishes with a discussion of some of the issues that might arise from involving children as stakeholders.     

IITE信息与通信技术教育评价指标体系述评

介绍了联合国教科文组织教育信息化研究所(IITE)建立的教育信息化评价指标体系的主要内容,国家信息技术政策与行动方案和统计及其具体指标,分析了其对我国信息技术教育发展的启示,希望对我国信息技术评价体系提供一些思路。     

Designing for Designing: Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Professional Education

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) appear to be well fitted to the education of design professionals, such as architectural and engineering students, mainly because of the unique culture of these professional schools, where the emphasis is on creativity, collaboration, social relevance and rapid communication of ideas. Attention is focused on the reflection‐inaction theory of Donald Schön as well as the educational paradigm of constructivism as it is articulated by Dewey and Vygotsky. It is also argued that the full implementation of ICTs for professional education would also be extremely beneficial to the development of professional collegiality beyond the borders of geography and culture. All of this is followed by a consideration of important criticisms brought to bear upon both the use of ICTs in the classroom and the commonly held assumption that constructivism is the optimal educational paradigm.     

Designing a Model for Integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the Iranian Agricultural Research System

Abstract

Capacity Development is needed in the Iranian Agricultural System. Integrating Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the agricultural research system is an appropriate capacity development mechanism. The appropriate application of ICTs and information such as a National Agricultural Information System requires a systemically developed strategic plan, based on identifying and recognizing system-wide organizational implications. In this regard, this paper focuses on the implications of integrating ICTs in the Iranian agricultural research system. To this aim, the authors conducted a survey research study using qualitative analysis of interview data from a select sample of agricultural researchers and agricultural faculty members. After designing an interview protocol and doing interviews with the select sample of agricultural researchers and faculty members (n = 29), a qualitative procedure was used to analyze the data, based on conceptual extraction and thematic categorization of statements. Categories included guidelines, expected outcomes, challenges and barriers of appropriate ICTs integration in the Iranian agricultural research system. In addition, different phases of the ICTs integration process were identified in the form of a pathway diagram. Finally, based on related Iranian lessons learned, which are explained in this research, some appropriate mechanisms for integrating ICTs in national agricultural research system were indicated.     

Gender in teaching: a literature review

Internationally, both in popular and scientific media, debates occasionally emerge concerning the possible (negative) consequences of feminisation tendencies in the teaching staff. In these discussions, various assumptions about the ‘nature’ of male and female teachers and masculinity and femininity are expressed. Male and female teachers are often presumed to differ in teaching styles, capacities and effects on both the teaching profession and the pupils. The arguments used in these debates only seldom refer to particular theoretical grounds or to empirical evidence. Moreover, apart from Sandra Acker’s essay ‘Gender and teachers’ work’ in 1995 Acker, S. 1995. “Gender and teachers’ work”. In Review of research in education, Edited by: Apple, M. W. 99–162. Washington DC: American Educational Research Association. [Crossref] , [Google Scholar], educational research lacks an up‐to‐date review of teacher gender. Therefore, this article aims to provide insight into contemporary theoretical gender perspectives. It also intends to connect these with empirical research that takes teacher gender into account. Most of the research studies referred to in this article do not explicitly state their underlying theoretical principles. Yet, since these studies have distinct research foci, research questions, methodologies and conclusions, they appear to depart from a variety of gender conceptualisations. Therefore, in this article the differences between these conceptualisations will be examined and the divergent theoretical assumptions underlying these studies will be revealed. The two most widespread and disparate perspectives in gender theory are the essentialist perspectives on the one hand and the constructionist perspectives on the other. The differences between them are made up by the degree to which explanations are deterministic and focused on the individual rather than on the social and cultural level. Drawing upon this theoretical contrast, we divided the body of research on teacher gender into two divergent research traditions: sex differences research and gender dynamics research. The research questions, underlying theoretical principles and methodologies of these two traditions are examined.     

Training Effects on Older Adults in Information and Communication Technologies Considering Psychosocial Variables

The main aim of this study is to contribute knowledge about the impact of the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) on the self-concept, mood, and quality of life of institutionalized older adults in retirement homes and day care centers (Portuguese institutions). It also studies the influence of independent variables such as age; education; referral to the institution (own initiative, indicated by friends, indicated by family, indicated by social security); attendance schedule; and visits from family and friends. The study comprised 41 participants organized into two groups: 22 older adults in the ICT Group and 19 older adults in the Passive Control Group. There were three evaluation periods: before the onset of intervention and 11 and 22 months after intervention began. The results demonstrate that involvement with information and communication technologies produced positive effects on older adults’ social behavior and their self-perception of physical and environment facets of quality of life. Moreover, they suggest that there is a relationship between psychosocial variables and independent variables.     

Integrating Information and Communication Technologies Into the Early Childhood Curriculum: Chinese Principals' Views of the Challenges and Opportunities

This study investigated the challenges and opportunities associated with the introduction of information and communication technologies (ICT) into the early childhood curriculum in Hong Kong kindergartens. Thirty-one principals completed questionnaires before they implemented a new curriculum initiative plan that involved the integrating of ICT into children's learning activities. They completed the same questionnaire and were interviewed within 1 month after they had implemented the curriculum. Findings indicated that the main problems were as follows: the low level of teachers' ICT competence, hardware and software problems, the lack of resources and technical support, and parental level of ICT competence. In-service training was regarded as the pivotal solution to these problems. The 5 levels of ICT transformation of the educational and learning processes (Mooij & Smeets, 2001) were evident in the participating schools. Most of the principals admitted that they were just "technology learners" (Yee, 1999), with regard to their information technology leadership. Sociocontextual accounts and implications of these findings are discussed.     

Integrating Information and Communication Technologies Into the Early Childhood Curriculum: Chinese Principals' Views of the Challenges and Opportunities

This study investigated the challenges and opportunities associated with the introduction of information and communication technologies (ICT) into the early childhood curriculum in Hong Kong kindergartens. Thirty-one principals completed questionnaires before they implemented a new curriculum initiative plan that involved the integrating of ICT into children's learning activities. They completed the same questionnaire and were interviewed within 1 month after they had implemented the curriculum. Findings indicated that the main problems were as follows: the low level of teachers' ICT competence, hardware and software problems, the lack of resources and technical support, and parental level of ICT competence. In-service training was regarded as the pivotal solution to these problems. The 5 levels of ICT transformation of the educational and learning processes (Mooij & Smeets, 2001) were evident in the participating schools. Most of the principals admitted that they were just “technology learners” (Yee, 1999), with regard to their information technology leadership. Sociocontextual accounts and implications of these findings are discussed.