Information and Communications Technologies

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Information and Communications Technologies

• Adam Aroian
• Katie Kelel

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Agenda

• Introduction to us and to ICTs in our sites.
• ICTs role in development.
• Implementation nitty-gritties.
• Teaching computers.
• Resources available.
• Conclusions/wrap-up.

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ICTs role in development

• What are ICTs?
• Importance of ICTs
• ICTs in municipalities
• The place of ICTs

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ICTs role in developmentWhat are ICTs?

• Information and Communications Technologies.
• Computers and Internet, but also old stuff like
  phones, TV, and radio.
• All the rage nowadays in development
  digital-divide fetish.
• Present problems, opportunities for PCVs.

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ICTs role in developmentImportance of ICTs

• Contemporary world dominated by information and
  communication.
• Importance of education.
• Knowledge is power.
• Communication is power.
• Lack of information and communication contributes
  to the powerlessness of the poor.
• Well go through some examples.

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ICTs role in developmentImportance of ICTs

• What are the effects of ignorance of
• Markets, existing and emerging?
• How ones government works and the pros and cons
  of its leaders?
• Ones rights?
• Job skills and professional development?
• Techniques for community development?
• How to maintain ones health?
• Support available for projects?

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ICTs role in developmentImportance of ICTs

• What are the effects of an inability to
  communicate to
• Keep in touch with family and friends?
• Carry out ones job and network with colleagues?
• Petition for relief of problems from governments
  and NGOs?
• Collaborate for implementing projects?
• Coordinate regional activities?

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ICTs role in developmentImportance of ICTs

• By improving information and communication, ICTs
  promise to empower the poor and those who help
  them.
• Access to ICTs (and knowing how to use them) is
  half the battle.
• The other half is education in general.
• Peace Corps is somewhat late to the game but in
  2000 began to articulate ICT goals for projects.

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ICTs role in developmentICTs and municipalities

• ICTs can be powerful tools for municipalities.
• Information and communication help institutions
  that help the poor.
• Example here is local government.
• The poor often lack an effective voice in the
  institutions, processes, and policies that shape
  their lives.
• Information and communication fosters
  transparent, accountable government.

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ICTs role in developmentThe place of ICTs

• You cant eat high-speed Internet access.
• Microsoft Word? Theyre barely even literate!
• A computer center costs thousands of dollars I
  think we should spend that money first on a water
  system.
• I plant corn and beans. I just dont see why I
  should make the effort to learn this newfangled
  machine.

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ICTs role in developmentThe place of ICTs

• ICTs are not a magic bullet they are one more
  tool to achieve larger goals.
• Common mistake once computers are there,
  nebulously defined benefits will automatically
  follow.
• Improving information and communication is a
  necessary but not sufficient condition to
  eliminate poverty.
• Most ICT development projects have ended up in
  failure.

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Implementation nitty-gritties

• Human factors
• Infrastructure factors
• A word on software
• Case studies

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Implementation nitty-grittiesHuman factors

• Where do you want to go today?
• Start with the end in mind ultra-specific
  goals, shared vision for the machines.
• What groups of people will commit to learning and
  using the machines?
• For what tasks?
• Why is this worthwhile? What benefits will the
  computers bring?
• Critical to do before anything else!
• Emphasis on the community (not you) will have
  most of the responsibility.

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Implementation nitty-grittiesHuman factors

• Is there a plan for sustainability
  (support/repairs/new equipment)?
• Again, before machines show up.
• Look at hidden costs to find total cost of
  ownership.
• Who will do tech support?
• Replacement of machines.
• How will all this money be raised?
• Are any fees/taxes/fundraisers acceptable to the
  community as a whole?

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Implementation nitty-grittiesInfrastructure
factors

• High levels of crime.
• Do you have a secure place for machines?
• Electricity is flaky, wiring ancient.
• Allow at least three outlets per machine are
  they there?
• Surge suppression cheap insurance.
• Telcos improving, but very pricey.
• Phone line is it there?
• Unlimited Internet 60/month.
• Limited Internet (free) 1/hour.

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Implementation nitty-grittiesInfrastructure
factors

• UN ICT development rankings.
• 1. United States
• 46. Costa Rica
• 51. Panama
• 64. Honduras
• 75. Mexico
• 76. El Salvador
• 98. Guatemala
• 110. Nicaragua
• 179. Eritrea (last)

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Implementation nitty-grittiesInfrastructure
factors

• Choose high-quality name brands.
• Apple, Compaq/HP, Dell, Gateway, IBM, Sony.
• Legal software, system restore CDs.
• Relatively easy to find drivers.
• Better quality and reliability.
• Salvadoran computer stores various combinations
  of no-name machines, low quality, horrible
  service, high prices, unavailability of parts,
  pirated software.
• Dell.com/sv, CompuMax, Office Depot.

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Implementation nitty-grittiesA word on software

• Appropriate software is critical and must be
  invested in.
• Many times you will need more than Windows and
  Office.
• Be aware of pirated softwares pitfalls.
• PNC busting people in markets liability for
  you, counterparts, Peace Corps.
• Microsofts copy protection and the need for
  reliable backup copies.
• Intellectual property rights in economic
  development in short and long terms.

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Implementation nitty-grittiesCase studies

• Work on them in pairs.
• Presentation afterwards.

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Teaching computers

• The biggest challenge
• Attitudes towards technology
• Concrete tips
• Case studies

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Teaching computersThe biggest challenge

• After no shared vision, by far the biggest
  mistake that is made with ICT in development is
  insufficient attention to training.
• Training is so critical that experts have
  recommended that up to 25 of your budget go
  there (books, stipends, consultations, etc.).
• Never forget that Peace Corps is about developing
  people, not things.

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Teaching computersThe biggest challenge

• Knowing something well is not the same as being
  able to teach it effectively!
• The groundwork for effective training the
  shared vision that you developed they will have
  enthusiasm to learn.
• You are but a resource the primary
  responsibility, including for self-training, must
  be with the community.
• Problems unique to computer teaching.

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Teaching computersThe biggest challenge

• Many will have general interest but not know the
  benefits of ICTs.
• You have to educate them during the shared-vision
  stage.
• Critical for enthusiasm, self-responsibility.
• Most, including mayors, are uneducated and have
  never touched a computer.
• Manage your expectations!
• Go s-l-o-w!

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Teaching computersAttitudes towards technology

• Technology enthusiasts.
• Enthusiastic early adopters hobbyists.
• Prove-its.
• Invest in technology only after a concrete
  benefit to them is demonstrated.
• Technology resisters.
• Computers make them feel overwhelmed, scared.
• Most Salvadorans, in my opinion.

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Teaching computersConcrete tips

• Group people by their attitude to technology.
• Manage expectations and go s-l-o-w.
• When I hear, I forget. When I see, I
  remember. When I do, I understand.
• Demonstrate and replicate.
• Hands-on and interactive.
• Tied to real life.

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Teaching computersConcrete tips

• Computer interfaces are horrific I mean,
  really, really, insanely bad.
• You have forgotten what its like to be a
  beginner.
• Most will not need to know how it works (although
  at least one should).
• Never take the mouse/keyboard unless
  demonstrating and immediately letting them
  practice what you just did.

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Teaching computersConcrete tips

• Kids can help you.
• Tricky things for newbies
• Mouse dexterity, clicking vs. right-clicking,
  only the tip of the pointer counts.
• Start menu, especially in Me dexterity and
  menus abbreviation and rearrangement.
• Keyboard slow down the key-repeat rate.
• Spanish computer vocab contains lots of English
  and differs in Spain.

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Teaching computersCase studies

• Work on them in pairs.
• Presentation afterwards.

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Resources
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Resources

• Peace Corps itself could use a dose of
  information and communication!
• Fellow PCVs.
• www.fijateque.net
• ICT_PCVs Yahoo Group.
• Gini Wilderson, PC/Washington.
• ICE materials.
• MINED Dirección de Tecnologías Educativas.
• InfoCentros has classes.

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Resources

• ICT theory www.eldis.org/ict/
• Lessons www.aulaclic.com
• Lessons www.aulafacil.com
• Lessons albares.com/tutoriale/tutoriales.htm
• Telecom has online lessons (15).
• Microsoft donations microsoft.com/elsalvador/dona
  ciones/
• Shareware www.softonic.com

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Close and evaluation