Comments on: Remove obstacles to technology adoption http://www.e4africa.co.za/?p=2078 Documenting the challenges of implemening ICT in schools in South Africa. Fri, 10 Sep 2010 05:28:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Mark C http://www.e4africa.co.za/?p=2078&cpage=1#comment-1139 Mark C Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:49:06 +0000 http://www.e4africa.co.za/?p=2078#comment-1139 I got too much to write here but a few things hamper technology adoption: 1) Responsibility and ownership. The schools still think that the labs belong to Khanya. 2)Technology. If curriculum delivery depends on technology, you better see that the technology works. In our case there are too many problems such as power failures, Windows (no matter which version), viruses (aaarrrgghhh), networks down. etc. 3) The Khanya way is not the only way. In fact I believe if we think that way we close our minds to other paths of technology use. 4) Propriety Software. Education cannot survive if they have to pay for every little upgrade or service. I will cite one example. A teacher has to play a DVD on a laptop but cannot do so because there are no codecs. Off we went to do an internet search. Most of the codecs have price tags attached. Only some search I did at home delivered a free codecs. I just hope they worked. I don't mind being a groundbreaker. I just find myself digging a trench when others have somehow stopped because this is not their priority? If this is so, then what are their priorities? Where are the supporters or helpers? How will a building be built if nobody else digs and help to build. It's ok to be the groundbreaker, but what happens afterwards? Talk and no action? I got too much to write here but a few things hamper technology adoption:
1) Responsibility and ownership. The schools still think that the labs belong to Khanya.
2)Technology. If curriculum delivery depends on technology, you better see that the technology works. In our case there are too many problems such as power failures, Windows (no matter which version), viruses (aaarrrgghhh), networks down. etc.
3) The Khanya way is not the only way. In fact I believe if we think that way we close our minds to other paths of technology use.
4) Propriety Software. Education cannot survive if they have to pay for every little upgrade or service. I will cite one example. A teacher has to play a DVD on a laptop but cannot do so because there are no codecs. Off we went to do an internet search. Most of the codecs have price tags attached. Only some search I did at home delivered a free codecs. I just hope they worked.

I don’t mind being a groundbreaker. I just find myself digging a trench when others have somehow stopped because this is not their priority? If this is so, then what are their priorities? Where are the supporters or helpers? How will a building be built if nobody else digs and help to build. It’s ok to be the groundbreaker, but what happens afterwards? Talk and no action?

]]> By: cwalker http://www.e4africa.co.za/?p=2078&cpage=1#comment-1134 cwalker Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:46:57 +0000 http://www.e4africa.co.za/?p=2078#comment-1134 We have to few folk with the "entrepreneurial" skills to forge ahead, believeing in what they set out to do despite the considerable odds they face. It takes a certain character to open opportunities for others. ...but this is exactly what they do... they clear the seemingly difficult path for other less adventurous ones to follow. We have to few folk with the “entrepreneurial” skills to forge ahead, believeing in what they set out to do despite the considerable odds they face. It takes a certain character to open opportunities for others.

…but this is exactly what they do… they clear the seemingly difficult path for other less adventurous ones to follow.

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