Using information and communication technologies as a partnership enabler: challenges and recommendations

Abstract

The Reciprocal Learning in Teacher Education and School Education between Canada and China is a partnership research program funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada, and nine educational institutions from Canada and China are involved in this program. Since the beginning of the program, a variety of information and communication technologies (ICT) have been employed to support different aspects of the research program. This paper intends to not only report what has been experienced by the ICT Team, but also have discussions on the use of ICT in cross-cultural partnership research programs. It is recommended that a number of factors, such as cultural, geographical, social and political, should be understood and considered for a successful partnership program.