Title: Transformative Impact of ICT: Change stories from rural India
Authors/Editors: Arundhathi, Suchit Nanda and Subbiah Arunachalam
Pages: 31 pp.
ISBN: 978-81-88355-16-7
Source: www.photonicyatra.com
Publisher: Jamsetji Tata National Virtual Academy (NVA) M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai
Date (published): 19/01/2010
Date (accessed): 29/01/2010
Type of information: report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
ICT is now recognized as a technological tool which can serve as a catalytic intervention in respect of transforming the lives and livelihoods of rural families. The economic and income divides between urban and rural areas can be overcome only by the technological upgradation of rural professions. The present publication provides examples of the transformational role of ICT in a wide range of rural professions. For example, artesenal fishermen going out into the ocean in a catamaran can now carry a cell phone with GPS data on the location of fish shoals and information on wave heights at different distances from the shore line. The Village Knowledge Centre or Gyan Chaupal (VKC) provides information on sanitary and phytosanitary measures and Codex Alimentarius standards of food safety, so that Salmonella and other infections can be avoided.
The present publication contains 12 case studies, which illustrate the transformational role of ICT in villages. I hope the men and women who have mastered the technologies and are applying them in day today life will serve as role models for other rural families. We should convert the small programme started by MSSRF in 1992 into a mass movement, bringing hope and cheer in the lives of the rural poor.

Title: Reaching the Unreached: Community based Village Knowledge Centres & Village Resource Centres
Authors/Editors: Suchit Nanda and Subbiah Arunachalam
Pages: 59 pp.
ISBN: 978-81-88355-15-0
Source: www.photonicyatra.com
Publisher: Jamsetji Tata National Virtual Academy (NVA) M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai
Date (published): 19/01/2010
Date (accessed): 29/01/2010
Type of information: report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
The power of ICT in the field of information, communication and technology empowerment in rural areas is now widely recognized. Reaching the unreached and voicing the voiceless are now achievable objectives in development programmes. To assess whether Village Knowledge Centres (VKCs) and Village Resource Centres (VRCs) are really making a difference in the lives and livelihoods of the socially and economically handicapped sections of the rural population, it is essential that continuous monitoring and evaluation, as well as documentation are undertaken.
In this publication guidance is given on the procedure to be adopted for setting up VKCs and VRCs (Village Resource centres which have satellite connection and telecommunication facilities). It was the hope of scientists of MSSRF in the year 2000 that by 2007, all our villages will have Knowledge Centres. The Government of India included Knowledge Connectivity under its Bharat Nirman programme (i.e., New Deal for Rural India), and provided funds for establishing 100,000 common service centres to service rural India. Private sector companies like ITC started expanding its e-chaupal programme.

Title: Emerging Trajectories and Sustainability of ICTs in Educational Reforms in Africa: Exploring the Prospects of the Teacher Laptop Policy in South Africa
Author: Chijioke J. Evoh
Pages: 13 pp.
ISSN: 1554-2262
Source: Journal of Education for International Development 4:2, December 2009
Publisher: Educational Quality Improvement Program (EQUIP)and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Date (published): 22/12/2009
Date (accessed): 29/01/2010
Type of information: research paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
The integration of information communication technologies (ICTs) in education is part of the effort to ensure a better outcome in public education. Other sectors of the society have raised productivity by using technology to augment human labor. However, the teaching profession in Africa has become more labor-intensive due to lack of necessary resources. In line with the goal of raising teacher productivity, and given the shortage of qualified teachers in the system, the Teacher Laptop Initiative (TLI) policy in South Africa aims to bring innovation in the teaching profession by constantly improving the contents and pedagogical skills of teachers. Based on the technological, pedagogical and content knowledge theoretical framework, this study explores the prospects and challenges of the TLI program. As desirable as policy may be, this paper argues that a successful TLI in South African schools will go beyond providing teachers with laptop computers. The success will depend on how well the laptops are used by teachers for productive educational outcomes.

Title: Tuned In To Student Success: Assessing the Impact of Interactive Radio Instruction for the Hardest-to-Reach
Authors: Jennifer Ho, Hetal Thukral
Pages: 18 pp.
ISSN: 1554-2262
Source: Journal of Education for International Development 4:2, December 2009
Publisher: Educational Quality Improvement Program (EQUIP)and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Date (published): 22/12/2009
Date (accessed): 29/01/2010
Type of information: research paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
A review of recent research was conducted to assemble evidence on the impact that Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) may have on improving student learning outcomes. IRI is an instructional tool designed to deliver a family of active learning packages via radio broadcast using a dual-audience approach. IRI exposes students to regular, curriculum-based learning content while modeling effective learning activities and classroom organization techniques for teachers. As IRI continues to be called upon to improve teaching and learning in low-resource and hard-to-reach areas, a better understanding of the empirical data available is critical to guide the way forward. IRI has been implemented by Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) in over 50 countries over the past 30 years. This paper is a review of existing student and teacher data collected by EDC’s IRI projects. Effect sizes are used to summarize what is known about the effect of IRI on student learning gains in Grades K-4 for English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Local Language. In all, student test results from 13 projects, ranging from Nicaragua in 1977 through Indonesia in 2008, are reviewed, as are teacher observation outcomes from Mali and Madagascar.

Title: An Analysis of the Research and Impact of ICT in Education in Developing Country Contexts
Authors: Nitika Tolani-Brown, Meredith McCormac, Roy Zimmermann
Pages: 12 pp.
ISSN: 1554-2262
Source: Journal of Education for International Development 4:2, December 2009
Publisher: Educational Quality Improvement Program (EQUIP)and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Date (published): 23/12/2009
Date (accessed): 29/01/2010
Type of information: research paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
Despite evidence of increased usage of information and communication technology (ICT) in educational programming, extant evaluations on the impact of ICT on educational child outcomes are sparse and often lack the methodological rigor necessary to guide policymakers towards sound, evidence-based practices. The American Institutes for Research (AIR) has conducted a global analysis of research undertaken to date on the deployment of ICT solutions to support education goals in developing countries. The present study is comprised of two phases. First, a series of in-depth, structured interviews were conducted with a range of stakeholders, including policymakers and academicians, researchers, users and developers of ICT solutions. These interviews touched upon the challenges associated with developing, implementing and evaluating ICT solutions within educational settings, perceptions on the utility and future of ICT solutions and extant gaps in the usage of ICT solutions within developing countries. Second, AIR conducted a detailed literature review of published and unpublished evaluations on the educational impacts of ICT solutions. This paper reports on the demonstrated and measurable impacts of ICT on students and generates an innovative and rigorous research agenda addressing salient issues such as impact and effectiveness, return on investment, and total cost of ownership.

Title: Complementary uses of Information Systems in Decision Making, Planning and Democracy: An Example in the Education Sector
Author: Felix Alvarado
Pages: 12 pp.
ISSN: 1554-2262
Source: Journal of Education for International Development 4:2, December 2009
Publisher: Educational Quality Improvement Program (EQUIP)and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Date (published): 24/12/2009
Date (accessed): 28/01/2010
Type of information: research paper
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
This paper describes the ongoing implementation of web intelligence tools in public education and other policy sectors in Guatemala. In the case described, software tools first developed for use in business were adopted for planning and decision making in public institutions. Easy online access to the outputs of these tools as web documents suggested their use to foster transparency, accountability and social oversight. This paper summarizes the salient aspects of the experience so far of implementing and expanding what has been called the “Platform for Integrated Social Information,” It discusses the issues this Platform raises as a resource for improved public decision making, policy analysis and especially, as a promising but challenging tool for democracy in the education sector.

Title: 2010 Global Telecommunications Predictions
Authors: John Ruffolo, Paul Lee, Duncan Stewart
Publisher: Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
Date (published): 21/01/2010
Date (accessed): 27/01/2010
Type of information: business report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
Deloitte’s annual global telecommunications predictions report identifies network, device, and application trends likely to affect consumers and businesses in 2010. The topics covered in this year’s report include the following:

* Growing importance of mobile search for smartphones
* Changes in network technologies and pricing plans to cope with the explosion of data
* Rethinking the reliability requirements of wireless networks compared to landline
* Changing the scale of wireless contracts both in terms of up-time and duration

Title: Reframing Information Literacy as a Metaliteracy
Authors: Thomas P. Mackey, Trudi E. Jacobson
Pages: 33 pp.
ISSN: 0010-0870
e-ISBN 2150-6701
Source: College & Research Libraries
Publisher: American Library Association
Date (published): 25/01/2010
Date (accessed): 27/01/2010
Type of information: research paper (preprint!)
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
Social media environments and online communities are innovative collaborative technologies that challenge traditional definitions of information literacy. Metaliteracy is an overarching and self-referential framework that integrates emerging technologies and unifies multiple literacy types. This redefinition of information literacy expands the scope of generally understood information competencies and places a particular emphasis on producing and sharing information in participatory digital environments

Title: ICTs for Development: Improving Policy Coherence
Pages: 207 pp.
ISBN: 9789264077409
Publisher: OECD
Date (published): 22/01/2010
Date (accessed): 27/01/2010
Type of information: research report
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf)
Abstract:
Information communication technologies (ICTs) are crucial to reducing poverty, improving access to health and education services and creating new sources of income and employment for the poor. Being able to access and use ICTs has become a major factor in driving competitiveness, economic growth and social development. In the last decade, ICTs, particularly mobile phones, have also opened up new channels for the free flow of ideas and opinions, thereby promoting democracy and human rights.

The OECD and infoDev joined forces at a workshop on 10-11 September 2009 to examine some of the main challenges in reducing the discrepancies in access to ICTs and use of ICTs between developing countries. The workshop discussed best practices for more coherent and collaborative approaches in support of poverty reduction and meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

There is much work to be done on improving policy coherence and there is a need to engage more actively with partner countries. Making the most of ICTs requires that they are seen as part of innovation for development, rather than just another development tool.

This publication examines access to ICTs, as a precondition to their use; broadband Internet access and governments' role in making it available; developments in mobile payments; ICT security issues; ICTs for improving environmental performance; and the relative priority of ICTs in education.

Title: Science and Innovation for Development
Author Editor: Gordon Conway and Jeff Waage, with Sara Delaney
Pages: pp.
ISBN: 978 1 84129 0829
Publisher: UK Collaborative on Development Sciences (UKCDS)
Date (published):
Date (accessed):
Type of information:
Language: English
On-line access: yes (pdf, 29,1MB!)
Abstract:
Scientific education, knowledge and research are crucial to solving development challenges.

Science as a tool for providing evidence and discovering solutions has been neglected recently by many key decision makers, Science and Innovation for Development aims to play a part in changing that.

Download by chapters:
INTRODUCTION

* Contents, foreword by Professor Calestous Juma, preface, about the authors (PDF 418KB)

Part 1: MOBILISING SCIENCE FOR DEVELOPMENT

* Chapter 1 - The Nature of Science and Innovation (PDF 1.15MB)
* Chapter 2 - Appropriate Innovation (PDF 1.72MB)
* Chapter 3 - Building Partnerships for Innovation (PDF 2.31MB)

PART 2: SCIENCE AND MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

* Chapter 4 - Progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (PDF 4.71MB)
* Chapter 5 - Combating Hunger (PDF 2.38MB)
* Chapter 6 - Improving Health (PDF 3.84MB)
* Chapter 7 - Achieving Environmental Sustainability (PDF 2.71MB)

PART 3: THE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

* Chapter 8 - The Science of Climate Change (PDF 4.86MB)
* Chapter 9 - Adapting to Climate Change (PDF 5.16MB)

PART 4

* Conclusion (PDF 324KB