Appropriation Of Information And Communication Technologies Research Articles

English

The Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can play an important role in accelerating the economic growth potential of a country. The exponentially rapid spread of ICT is deeply affecting the social, political, economic and cultural spheres in even in poor countries like Togo. We evaluated the appropriation of ICT in Togo to determine its potential to integrate its economy into global production networks through a techno-economic paradigm shift. In Togo, ITC has impacted education, health, rural development, economic and public management and other infrastructures. Many difficulties handicap the evaluation of changes in ICT and its consequences on economic growth. Therefore, the concept of ICTs has remained vague with regard to the ever changing diversity of its components and applications. Qualitative approach was used for theoretical foundations of the relationship between ICTs and economic growth while the quantitative approach focuses on the contribution of NICTs to economic development in Togo. Our analysis indicates that despite the exponential diffusion of NICTs and their admirable contribution in the economic development of developing countries, Togo remains marginalized. This is based on the synthesis that digital economy should not only be measured by the weight of ICT sector but also by the impact of ICTs on the whole national economic activity. Key words: ICT, Economic development, shift, production, network, Togo.

Creencias, conocimientos y usos de las TIC de los profesores universitarios

What university teachers know and believe about applying information and communication technology (ICT) in teaching and the purpose in using it are examined in this study. One hundred eighty three (183) university teachers answered a questionnaire to that effect. The results show they are positively inclined toward the use of ICT in education and believe both technologies can support teaching and learning. They report knowing the ICT surveyed; however, they use only two of them more frequently: learning and Internet content management systems. They also report using these tools mainly for connectivity, communication and to organize the contents of their classes. Although their beliefs are positive and could favor the appropriation of ICT in their teaching, the implications of what teachers know and the uses proposed are debated from the standpoint of the educational objectives in applying ICT.

As "agruras" da gestão da propriedade rural pela agricultura familiar

This article is the result of a research project entitled Rural Development and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to examine the possibilities of introducing ICTs to the family farm in Vale do Cai, with the experience of pilot extension in Montenegro central city of the region, aimed at rural and regional development. The article focuses on the extension activities that have as main objective the training of family farmers in ICT, from dialogues, discussion, negotiation and joint construction of knowledge. To this end, integration workshops dealing with farmers on the use of ICTs and main were built collectively (staff and farmers project components) spreadsheets to manage the farm were performed. Furthermore , the monitoring “ in loco” for monitoring and aid for recording information seeking process is to build a collective approach with farmers , so they can become self-employed in managerial processes . It was concluded that there is a gap between the use and appropriation of ICT, in other words, the components of the project farmers have access to the computer, the internet, the phone and the notebook. However, when it comes to recording information and control of expenditure and revenue don’t there custom or understanding of actual need and usefulness of annotations to support decision making.

Mídias na Educação: discurso oficial nos discursos de professores egressos de um Programa de Formação Continuada

The discourse around information and communication technologies (ICT) have gained visibility in our country since 1995, especially after the launch of the Internet (commercial) and the implementation of policies concerning the incorporation of new technologies into the educational space. Generally, in official speeches, technology is the great ally in the reconfiguration of pedagogical practice and falls on the teacher the responsibility for promoting the transformation, demanding, for that end, requalification, for the teacher to be able to occupy the role of mediator between ICT and students. In this article, we discuss the appropriation of ICT, approaching the practices shared by teachers who graduated from a teachers’ continuing education course in Media in Education, to understand, from the perspective of teachers, which are the decisive factors for using ICT in the classroom and what aspects of their training were significant for that use. Founded on the concept of co-authoring as a learning strategy and with a social-interationist vision without, however, disconnecting the ties to instrumental approaches; has as one of its features "the integration of different media to the process of teaching and learning. We have applied, in two stages, two qualitative approach questionnaires to all graduates of at least one of the cycles of the course in a Federal University. From about 410 participants contacted, 172 responded to the first questionnaire and 73 in the second, of more thorough approach. The results show dissociation between the new meanings that teachers imprint to ICT in their speeches and the omission, or the eventual use of the technologies in their daily practices. In this context, there could be found visible evidences of ownership and hibridization between the official and teachers’ speeches without showing, however, passivity or lack of criticism for part of the teachers.

Práticas cotidianas de acceso às TICs – outro modo de compreender la inclusão digital

The article offers a discussion on social and digital inclusion from the standpoint of practices for accessing and using information and communication technology (ICT) in everyday life. Theoretical reflection is developed to that end, based on a review of literature on research that analyzes projects and initiatives for digital inclusion and practices concerning the social uses of ICT. The results of an empirical study on how ICT is used by a specific group comprised of transnational migrants are discussed in the second part of the article. The methodology featured in-depth interviews with a group of more than 200 Latin American migrants in the contexts of the cities of Porto Alegre (Brazil) and Barcelona (Spain). While no comparison is made between digital inclusion policies and spontaneous appropriation of ICT, the data from the study suggest that important advances have been ignored by assessments ofprojects that seek to reduce the digital divide. This is due to the disparity that exists between the supposed needs and desires of social groups that guide these initiatives and the particular appropriation experiences of those who are the ultimate recipients of digital inclusion initiatives.

A cidade e a construção sociopolítica do planejamento urbano-tecnológico

The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has been rapidly growing in the fields of urban planning and management. While, traditionally, the process of sociopolitical construction of urban technologies follows a sectorial andfrag-mented logic, now there is a growing need for a more comprehensive approach with integrated urban strategies. For an understanding of this possible need, we must rebuild the history of facts and episodes of ICTS deployment from the point of view of the social groups involved, their interests and specific activities, and relationships between all these aspects. This type of analysis takes into consideration the theory of social construction of technology, in order to produce a historical narrative of the case studies, from the perspective of social and political construction. Thus, in this paper, we analyze critically different urban strategies of ICT appropriation and their characteris TICS, as well as the sociopolitical process in which they have been created

The use of information and communication technologies in three Egyptian newsrooms

The basis of the information revolution in Egypt centres on the use and appropriation of technological advancements. At its forefront is the growth of information and communication technologies (ICTs), which offer an active and interactive platform for socio-political development, including the circumstances leading to the “25 January 2011 revolution”, predominantly labelled as the “Facebook” or Twitter revolution’. After this “digital” revolution many Egyptians continued using cyberspace. They clustered in networks, created parallel communication systems, each with its own identity, and interacted on issues of common concern. Witnessing a changing environment, the Egyptian journalism industry has had no choice but to overcome its fear of adopting technologies in order to fit into the new mould. Several newsrooms have adopted ICTs in the hope that the new media would help them to develop their content and reconnect with their audiences. Although on the surface this implies development, this claim requires further assessment. This study therefore aims to investigate the implementation and appropriation of ICTs, especially internet technologies, in three Egyptian newsrooms: Al Ahram, Al Dostor, and Al Masry Al Youm. The study further examines the extent to which newsrooms are incorporating ICTs into their daily routine as well as how the technologies are shaping and redefining practices.

A recontextualização das tecnologias da informação e da comunicação na formação e no trabalho docente

Fundado na análise crítica de discurso, este artigo aborda a recontextualização das tecnologias de informação e comunicação (TIC) na formação e no trabalho docente, considerando as tendências pedagógicas em disputa por hegemonia. Está dividido em quatro seções: (1) princípios básicos da análise crítica de discurso e pontos de entrada; (2) o conceito de recontextualização como chave; (3) ensinar e aprender: entre a substituição tecnológica e a apropriação das TIC; e (4) para além da inovação tecnológica e da "democratização".

Ciberparticipación en Buenos Aires: ¿los sitios de redes sociales como espacio público?

This paper will discuss the concepts of deliberation, public space, and the role of new information and communication technologies (ICT) in the light of the major social and political transformation processes from the recent protests, particularly since 2011, in different parts of the globe. We also refer to changes in Argentina in the last decade and, then, analyze, in particular, youth social political participation in Buenos Aires and the social appropriation of ICTs engaged for this purpose today. Finally, we will reflect on the limits and potential of certain forms of cyberarctivism of Kirchner youths.

Quality schooling in the Network Society: a community approach through the everyday use of the internet

Beginning with a discussion of the latest findings in the information and communication technologies (ICT) and educational improvement field, this article develops a comprehensive strategy to analyse online community building. Far from offering a utopian or dystopian vision, we study the contribution of ICT appropriation as a tool for collaboration, participation, and co-responsibility in the everyday functioning of classrooms and schools. To do so, we examine and discuss school policies, expectations, and the current rate of internet use among administrators, teachers, and students from a representative sample of 350 schools in Catalonia (Spain). Our results show a sparsely connected education system, in which the integration of ICT does not appear to trigger a substantial revolution in established schooling practices. Our concluding statements defend the importance of ICT in education as the ultimate means of interaction that may enable community building to improve the processes of managing, teaching, and being educated in the Network Society.

Internet in teachers' professional practice outside the classroom: Examining supportive and management uses in primary and secondary schools

In recent years there has been widespread interest in the implementation of information and communication technologies (ICT) in schools. While most studies primarily focus on the use of ICT in teaching and learning, little attention has been given to their incorporation as a professional tool outside the classroom. Using a digital inequality approach, the aim of this paper is to develop and test a model of the factors that affect teachers' professional use of ICT, particularly the Internet, in primary and secondary schools. One thousand four hundred and five (1405) teachers from a representative sample of 536 primary and 273 secondary schools in Spain were surveyed. The dependent variables include attitudes towards the professional use of ICT and the use of the Internet in professional practice. The explanatory variables are the socio-demographics, school-level information, frequency of Internet access within and outside the school, educational ICT training, digital literacy, and organisational development. Controlling for socio-demographics and school-level information, multiple regression analyses are used to make inferential judgements and test the separate effects of the independent variables. Findings suggest that technological factors and organisational practices are important predictors of ICT appropriation for professional purposes.

The industrial challenges for African countries in the era of globalization and information and communication technology

The African economic development forums of the year 2009 marked opportunities for African leaders to unite in meeting the challenges of globalization and the emerging information economy. This advent coupled with the exponentially rapid spread of information and communication technology (ICT) is deeply affecting the social, political, economic and cultural spheres in most African countries. Furthermore, ICT had influenced the paths of national development and the international division of labor in some African countries which have embraced information economy as an essence of globalization fittedness which is aided by the use and application of electronic commerce. In this evaluation, we suggest that the appropriation of ICT by African countries is strongly determined by their ability to integrate into global production networks through a techno-economic paradigm shifting. A significant disparity in terms of international use of ICT is remarkable among African countries and developed countries given the inherent and unique challenges facing the African continent. However, industrial opportunities are opening for African countries following the rapid spread of these technologies, although there is need to strengthen the innovation-mediated production in the current global information economy. Key words: African countries, ICT, globalization, industrial companies.

Are ICTs Prerequisites for the Eradication of Poverty?

I provide a philosophical analysis of the claim that ICTs are necessary preconditions for the eradication of poverty. What are the links between information and communication technologies (ICTs) and poverty? I first define technology and then give a brief depiction of ICTs. Thereafter I define poverty and give a brief expla-nation of its context and causes. Next I discuss the relationship between poverty and ICTs in three paradigm cases: [i] the role of ICTs in poor societies, [ii] the effect of poor ICT knowledge and skill of individuals in highly developed technological societies, and [iii] the impact of impoverished ICT knowledge and skills on the rich, powerful, and intelligent ones in society. I propose a procedure for decision making about the appropria-tion of ICTs by individuals and societies. I assess the claim that both access to ICTs and effective use of them are preconditions for the eradication of poverty.

COMMUNITY INFORMATICS AND THE LOCAL STATE IN THE UK: Facilitating or assimilating an agenda for change?

The emerging discipline of community informatics (CI) has begun to trace out a distinct agenda for change in the social uses of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Focusing upon the appropriation of ICTs by local communities who have been disenfranchised by technological development, this agenda foregrounds uses of the Internet in the pursuit of distinctly community-related objectives. However, the role that the local state ought to play within this agenda for change remains marked by a degree of controversy and ambiguity. Assertions of the need for community autonomy coexist uneasily with a recognition that the local state can help develop and sustain CI. Much current work therefore focuses upon exploring notions of ‘partnership’ between the local state and local groups in developing CI. Against this background, this paper draws on a case study of Birmingham City Council (BCC) in order to explore a series of significant organizational changes to local government, which have seen BCC adopt a fundamentally new ‘community leadership’ role. This shift to community leadership is being expedited by innovative uses of Internet technology. It is argued that, rather than straightforwardly re-creating BCC as a better partner to community groups in developing CI, such changes are deeply paradoxical. In the first instance shifts to community leadership have enabled BCC to develop valuable web resources that enhance their role as a partner facilitating citizen-led CI. Conversely, however, these changes are bound up in a broader attempt by BCC to reassert managerial control at a time when its legitimacy as a social institution is being questioned. Faced with a series of external challenges, BCC has replicated important CI activities in the pursuit of its own interests. Ultimately it is argued that this assimilation of CI could eventually undermine the broader CI agenda for change.

Supporting the Appropriation of ICT: End-User Development in Civil Societies

The more open-ended and less organized contexts of home and social organizations present considerable challenges for the design and application of information and communication technology (ICT). An approach that actively supports user communities in their appropriation activities can help alleviate the lack of professional support in home and volunteering settings of use.

The social consumption of information and communication technologies (ICTs): insights from research on the appropriation and consumption of new ICTs in the domestic environment

This paper reviews some of the research on the use and consumption of technology in the domestic space that may not be familiar to members of the usability and design community, especially those traditionally focused on design for the workplace. The paper also introduces original research findings and conclusions from a qualitative study of the adoption and use of new ICTs conducted in a number of households and workplaces in the late 1990s, a time when many new ICT products and services were becoming available, and more traditional media and communication products were becoming widespread in homes. The paper does not make recommendations about the type of products and services to be developed, nor those that may be successful, although it is quite possible to draw this type of conclusion from it. Instead it looks at some rather broader trends in the way that we engage with technologies, rejecting and adopting them, and the importance of our domestic space and social networks to the way we will engage with future technologies aimed at the home space.