Various curriculum realizations, each of which is strongly influenced
by cultural, societal and institutional factors, can be constructed in a
straight forward way from the ICT curriculum that is presented. Schools
and countries will be able to construct an up-to-date curriculum from the
curriculum framework provided in a process in which specific needs,
restrictions with respect to resources, and other local circumstances are
taken into account. The curriculum allows educational publishers and
textbook writers to produce learning materials in the cultural traditions
of their country.
Availability of resources
In any educational system, the level of available resources places a
restriction on the degree to which any new subject can be introduced
into the school curriculum, especially where only the most basic facilities
have so far been provided. But ICT is of such importance to the
future industrial and commercial health of a country that investment in
the equipment, teacher education, and support services necessary for
the effective delivery of an ICT-based curriculum should rank high in
any set of government priorities.
The curriculum proposed takes account of these resource issues and
specifies minimum requirements for effective delivery in different circumstances.
TERMINOLOGY
To define information and communication technology (ICT), a term
used in the title of this book and extensively throughout, two other terms
need first to be defined.
Informatics (Computing Science)
UNESCO defines informatics as the science dealing with the design, realization,
evaluation, use, and maintenance of information processing systems,
including hardware, software, organizational and human aspects, and the
industrial, commercial, governmental and political implications of these.
12
ICT IN EDUCATION
A CURRICULUM AND PROGRAMME OF TEACHER DEVELOPMENT
Informatics technology
Informatics technology is defined as the technological applications (artifacts)
of informatics in society.
Information and communication technology (ICT)
Information and communication technology, or ICT, is defined as the
combination of informatics technology with other, related technologies,
specifically communication technology.
In this book, these three definitions have been collapsed into a single,
all encompassing, definition of ICT. This definition implies that ICT
will be used, applied, and integrated in activities of working and learning
on the basis of conceptual understanding and methods of informatics.