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Project objectives and plans

As ICT tools become increasingly widespread, ministries of education and schools and other learning settings need to monitor the outcomes of using the technologies. Indicators must be developed in order to monitor the types of ICT resources available and their accessibility, the extent and nature of professional development efforts, changes in teaching and learning practices, and improvement in what is learned by students.

An initial assessment (conducted in 2002) of the indicators already developed by others found that existing indicators are inadequate. While data that can be collected from these indicators can provide an overall view of infrastructure support and ICT penetration, it is necessary to develop indicators which will show how ICT have been used not only as a basic operational tool but also as a communications tool which promotes the development of creativity, interactivity, collaborative learning, critical thinking and problem-solving.

Education policy makers and administrators should mainstream the use of such indicators into their national educational policies and management information systems.

This project does not stop at indicators construction but aims to guide policy makers to put indicators to work. And to put indicators to work, the indicators need to be considered as the stimulus for change, rather than only snapshot of current conditions.

2002

•Undertaking a situation analysis to identify the (a) initiatives and projects already undertaken and (b) indicators used to measure ICT penetration, connectivity and usage in education in the region.
• Organising an Experts' Group Workshop to review existing indicators and develop an initial set for testing. In addition to experts, selected country representatives will also be invited to assist in testing these set of indicators in their respective countries. The Workshop will identify feasible indicators which could be used to measure both the quantitative and qualitative impact of ICT on education; to formulate a mechanism for collecting data and identifying network nodes for this exercise; and to prepare a work plan for information processing, repackaging and dissemination.
• Preparing and finalising the work plan and manual which will serve as the basis for implementing the pilot testing of indicators in selected countries.
• Pilot testing of the indicators in three to five countries within this year.
• Preparing a report on the findings of the project and submitting findings to UNESCO for processing, dissemination and eventually storage in a Regional Indicators database

 

2003

• Further pilot testing of indicators in six additional countries.
• Preparation of reports and submission to UNESCO for processing, storage and dissemination.
• Developing an indicators’ database system.
• Presenting the indicators database software for installation in national institutions. Training on the use of software at the national level.
• Inputting of data sets generated from country surveys into national and regional indicators databases.

 

2004

• Conducting a Regional Research Utilisation Workshop to present the findings of the pilot testing of indicators to policy makers and MIS personnel. In this Workshop, participants will identify problem areas confronted in data collection, processing and dissemination; suggest solutions; cull out policy and practice implications; and develop a plan for the utilisation, institutionalisation, maintenance and updating of this database.
• Revising and refining the first edition of the Manual on performance indicators. The Manual, which will be developed for administrators and implementers, will include instructions for installing and using the database. This material will be produced both in hard copy and electronic formats.
• Storing and maintaining the data in a regional database. Repackaging the data into fact sheets, policy briefs and ICT tools for policy makers for dissemination.



Outputs

The Project will develop a set of core performance indicators that countries could use and institutionalise for evaluating the impact of the use of ICT in education, specifically in improvements in teaching and learning. The set of core indicators will be geared towards improving and strengthening the capacity of governments to assess the effectiveness use of ICT in education and, accordingly, improve policy making and implementation of all aspects of ICT use in education.

The specific outputs expected from this Project are:

  • A situation analysis paper on the use of indicators for measuring impact of ICT use in education in the region.
  • A manual for the collection, processing and dissemination of ICT indicators developed for use in pilot testing.
  • A set of proposed indicators generated from the Experts’ Group Workshop and for testing in the countries.
  • Data derived from pilot testing of indicators at the country level.
  • A database of indicators developed, installed at both regional and country level and data collected from pilot testing inputted into this database.
  • The training of personnel in participating countries on the collection, processing and dissemination of ICT indicators data and in the installation and use of indicators database.
  • A mechanism and system for collecting, storing, analysing and disseminating of indicators installed/institutionalized at the country level.
  • The awareness of policy makers and personnel in the participating countries about the survey findings.
  • A manual on the collection, processing and use of indicators, as well as installation and use of software revised and refined.
  • A research utilisation strategy developed and implemented through a research utilisation workshop and repackaged materials such as policy briefs, info sheets; and an Infoshare Bulletin, uploaded on the ICT for Education website.


Stakeholders and Partners

The major institutions which will assist the UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education are the UNESCO Institute of Information Technology for Education (IITE) and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (INNOTECH).

Target audiences

  • Policy makers and national ICT authorities
  • Researchers
  • Donor agencies
  • Programme managers
  • Teachers and trainers