CCE Seminar: Technology and development: the contribution of OER

Duration: 56 mins 4 secs

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CCE Seminar: Technology and development: the contribution of OER's image

Description:	Tim Unwin, CEO of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation and UNESCO Chair in ICT4D, presents on ICT for Development, to alleviate poverty and improve quality of education and OER (ICT4D).

Created:

2012-05-22 14:39

Collection:

Centre for Commonwealth Education: Seminars

Publisher:

University of Cambridge

Faculty of Education

Language:

eng (English)

Keywords:

Tim Unwin; CCE Seminar; OERs; ICT4D; open educational resources; Centre for Commonwealth Education;

Credits:

Person:

Tim Unwin


Abstract:	The seminar explores the roles of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in development. Too often these are seen as a ‘silver bullet’ that has the potential to swiftly lift people out of poverty. Instead, it is argued that, as with many other technologies, ICTs normally serve primarily to enhance the positions of those in power. Additionally, they tend to be used primarily to impose external solutions on ‘recipient’ communities. Tim asks tough questions about technology and development. In whose interest is technology use in international development? Is it in the interest of the poorest and most marginalised? Are high cost individual technologies the right solution for the poorest? Or is the low-cost communal end of the spectrum the most appropriate area? Should we be working in that area more? If we do want interventions that make a difference to the poorest, how do we go about it? Open Education Resources (OERs) are widely championed as being an alternative way through which ICTs can indeed be used by such communities for their own benefit and ‘development’. However the reality is that advocacy of OERs often falls into the same traps that other ICT for development initiatives have previously encountered. Drawing on initiatives currently being implemented by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, the conclusion offers some suggestions as to how such programmes might potentially overcome this challenge.

Abstract:

The seminar explores the roles of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in development. Too often these are seen as a ‘silver bullet’ that has the potential to swiftly lift people out of poverty. Instead, it is argued that, as with many other technologies, ICTs normally serve primarily to enhance the positions of those in power. Additionally, they tend to be used primarily to impose external solutions on ‘recipient’ communities. Tim asks tough questions about technology and development. In whose interest is technology use in international development? Is it in the interest of the poorest and most marginalised? Are high cost individual technologies the right solution for the poorest? Or is the low-cost communal end of the spectrum the most appropriate area? Should we be working in that area more? If we do want interventions that make a difference to the poorest, how do we go about it?

Open Education Resources (OERs) are widely championed as being an alternative way through which ICTs can indeed be used by such communities for their own benefit and ‘development’. However the reality is that advocacy of OERs often falls into the same traps that other ICT for development initiatives have previously encountered. Drawing on initiatives currently being implemented by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, the conclusion offers some suggestions as to how such programmes might potentially overcome this challenge.

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