Transcript Power Users of Technology Summit December 11, 2004

Power Users of ICT Initiative
EDC
“Learning is a liberating force in human
development.”
Janet Whitla, President EDC
How do we inspire sustainable change around the
world? We  Bridge research and practice
 Pursue comprehensive solutions
 Collaborate
 Focus on questions that matter in people’s lives
Power Users of ICT are:
individuals who break out
of the confines of
traditional learning,
demographic, or
technological barriers by
constantly using, sharing,
creating, producing or
changing information in
creative, innovative
and/or unintended ways
so that they become force
multipliers in their own
environments.
Global Collaboration
Developing Economies &
Communities with less ICT Access
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Role of ICT in
accomplishing Millennium
goals by 2015
Potential Impact of Power
Users on workforce,
economy, education
system
How can Power User
Initiative relate to bridging
the “digital divide”?
Collaborators
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International Policy Makers
Researchers
Business Leaders
Educators
Young Power Users of
Technology
Foundation
Representatives
DIGITAL NATIVES
Raises Questions:
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Relationship of intensive technology
experiences and cognition
Understand the learning patterns
Impact of groups of Power Users on
families, communities, nations
Influence of Power Users on society
Economic impacts
For All Children
“The Power Users Initiative deals with what
people can learn about children who
have developed sophisticated technology
skills. It is just on example of changing
patterns of learning, challenging schools.
It raises important questions on behalf of
educators.”
Ulf Lundin
Executive Director European Schoolnet,
2003
Why Are We Doing This?
“Power Users from around the world offer humanity
an entirely new source of talent and imagination
for the future.”
“To give all children the opportunity to take
advantage of what technology can offer.”
“To create welcoming environments that encourage
youth people to be creators and inventors of new
technologies that connect us and improve our
world.”
Vivian Guilfoy, Sr. Vice President, EDC
Power Users Initiative Phases
One: Testing the concept - research and data gathering;
awareness building
Two: Information Gathering & Design – research approach
Three: Partnership Development and Global Communication
Activities – structure, globalization,
communication/outreach
Four: Launch of Long Term Initiative – research, publications,
International Network activities
Organization & Research Network
Education Development Center, Inc.
(EDC)
International Power Users of Technology
Directorate
International
Global Advisory Panel
(15 members)
Council
Youth
Advisors
of
Partners
Power Users International Research Center Network
Africa
Asia
Austral
ia
Europe
North
Americ
a
South
Americ
a
1st International Power Users of
ICT Symposium Goals
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Learn more about youth who are Power
Users of Technology
To generate questions and a framework
for a research agenda.
To develop an international community of
interest
To create on ongoing network that is
intergenerational and interdisciplinary
Symposium Program
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Global Youth Networks (TakingITGlobal, YES,
WSIS Youth Caucus
North vs South ICT Issues
Cognition and Learning of Power Users
Sharing Research
Power Users and ICT for Development
Convergence of Policy
Business Round Table
Innov@ Institute for Learning/FOD
Sharing Solutions
Invitation only-Research Framework/Next Steps
Symposium
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Participants:
• 45 youth from 16 Countries
• 15-20 Content Experts
• 7 Research Teams
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Teams: Australia, Latin America,
Nordic Countries, Philippines, United
States, International, China (virtual)
Countries Represented
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Argentina
Australia
Brazil
China
Costa Rica
Denmark
Germany
Iran
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Lebanon
Macedonia
Netherlands
Norway
Nigeria
Taiwan
Ukraine
US
Millennium Goals
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Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty
Achieve universal primary education
Promote gender equality and empower
women
Reduce child mortality
Improve maternal health
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other
diseases
Ensure environmental sustainability
Develop a global partnership for
development
Issues Identified by Participants as
Components of the Research
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Developing Economies and ICT Access
Power Users and role of Formal Education
Power Users and role in Civic engagement
Research Methods for the Long Term Study
Definition of Terms
Impact of Power Users on 21st Century Global
Culture
Preliminary Research Findings
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Power Users as learners who learn by
experimentation, are self teachers, build on the
knowledge of others, share information, learn
from friends and peers and pass on
information/learning to each other.
Power Users as youth who reject limits, who are
problem solvers, creators of their own paths, and
engage in “out of the box” thinking.
Preliminary Findings
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Power Users as users of technology who
consider the iterative relationship between
themselves and the technology such as how the
technology benefits them both as current user
and how technology will benefit them later, how
they develop other interests through technology,
and how technology allows for improvement of
products and processes.
Power Users as Evaluators who assess validity of
information, know their audience, make
distinctions around technology use, understand
their own technology skills and capabilities, select
and use both technology and traditional methods
of acquiring, using and producing information.
Findings
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Power Users as people who see ambiguity in a
positive light and who are comfortable defining
what comes next; who recognize cultural conflict
between formal and informal technology learning,
as well as the social connections technology
brings; and put in significant investment of time
to learn through or about technology
Recommendations to WSIS 2
Engage Youth
Seek opportunities to listen and learn from youth who are digital
natives. Co-sponsor biennial Symposia that include youth in
shaping the ongoing research agenda. Preliminary research is
telling us that intensive users of ICTS are developing new ways of
thinking, learning and solving problems that are impacting our
education and employment systems. They are living in virtual
communities with communication systems, values and ethics that
cross traditional boundaries. To ensure that policies and practices
of our global Information Society reflect these emerging patterns
of living, learning and working in the digital age, we must learn to
see the world through the eyes of digital natives. We must listen
to their issues and integrate their concerns and advice into our
policies and practices. We must help them understand their own
knowledge/ skills, interests, and emerging values within the
frames of reference provided by our histories in order to live
peacefully in a global information society.
Recommendations to WSIS 2
Expand and Deepen Research
Expand Global Research Network to all regions of the world in order
to document the development, growth and expansion of the global
digital culture shaping the World Information Society. Promote
participation of researchers associated with international programs
in the Power Users research network. This will ensure that the
voices of youth, from the developed and less developed world,
who have access to technology are included in this research and
that youth from around the world are invited to participate in
Power User activities that shape future research. Pursue global
research on youth who are intensive users of ICTs and their
real/potential impact on ICT for development in their various
countries. Power Users of ICTs is recognized as a global
phenomenum. Preliminary research findings are leading us to
believe that youth from all corners of the world who have access
to technology and have developed an interest in technology are
forming a digital culture. This emerging culture is expressing
common approaches to living, learning and working; and shared
sets of knowledge/skills, communication patterns/language, and
ethics/values. Deepening and expanding the research on Power
Users of ICT globally and sharing lessons learned will create a
living history of the emergence of the World Information Society.
Recommendations to WSIS 2
Build Global Awareness and Inform
Build global awareness of the emergence of the digital culture and
the research that is helping us to understand how young people
who are intensive users of technology are shaping the World
Information Society. Create opportunities to engage global cross
sector communities in dialog, through development of
collaborative activities and publications (UN Chronicle, UNDP..).
Annually invite the Power Users Initiative to speak at 5-10
relevant meetings (e.g. ICT Task Force, Diasporas, UNDP,
UNESCO, ILO….). Connect Power Users websites to relevant
websites of international projects, initiatives, organizations and
agencies. Inform target communities of emerging findings that
impact policy and practice within their own constituent groups:
global and national education, employment, business and
foundation communities, social and health sciences. Invite Power
Users Initiative to share research findings at conferences,
meetings, in publications to specific communities. Co-publish a
report on baseline data and global updates every five years.
Synthesize ongoing research within and outside of the Power
Users research community; report and publish updates to target
policy and practice communities (education, employment, ICT for
development, workforce development, on a regular basis.
Recommendations to WSIS 2
Leverage and Connect Investments
Leverage investments by connecting Power Users of ICT research
initiative with ongoing education, business, economic and
workforce development ICT initiatives in the global community
(e.g. GeSCI, GKP, UNESCO, UNDP, World Bank…). The Power
Users Initaitive has received strong support and acclaim. Take
advantage of the growing global interest in this topic by annually
co-sponsoring at least 3 meetings, conferences, symposia and
research activities with the initiative. Add Power Users of ICT
Directorate to mailing lists of newsletters, reports, upcoming
activities, meetings and conferences. Promote the inclusion of
Power Users Initiative in new initiatives related to ICT for All and
invite the Directorate to present research findings at meetings
where relevant issues are being discussed prior to issuance of
reports/updates. Promote the integration of lessons learned by
the Global Research Network into the ongoing work of relevant
United Nations and the work of international organizations. Seek
involvement in the Power Users activities; co-develop activities in
collaboration with the Power Users of ICT initiative.
Recommendations to WSIS 2
Translate Research into Action/Practice
Continue global action research in which youth are directly involved
in designing and carrying out the research activities. Develop
partnerships to ensure that the interests and issues of various
constituent groups are included in the research and that the
research findings are translated into the language and products
that invite use by members of that constituent group. Provide
funding and in-kind support to the Power Users Initiative to
develop Issues Briefs and reports that customize findings for
various relevant groups (e.g. education, employment, technology
policy, workforce development, economic development..).
Promote interns and executives in residence to the Power Users
Initiative to ensure the perspectives of constituent groups are
clear and well articulated in briefs and reports. Provide funding
and/or other opportunities to allow youth to implement the ideas
they develop through participating in the Power Users of ICT
action research activities. Advocate for the inclusion of articles,
reports, and other information as annual updates in relevant
reports, documents, meetings of the ICT Task Force/next steps
and other United Nations organizations.
Next Steps
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Work with UN to implement
Recommendations
Report to United Nations ICT Task Force
Draft Research Framework and Global
Research Network collaboration strategy
Share information broadly
Expand community of practice to include
additional thought leaders, policy
makers and practitioners
How You Can Participate
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Raise awareness of the Power Users initiative
within your own organization/ network
Join the “Power Users of ICT Global Research
Network”
Co-develop, co-sponsor activities; provide
internship opportunities for students
Join the International Council of Partners
Participate in and support regional “Power Users
of ICT” research and activities
Invite the Power Users Directorate to participate
in activities of your organization
For More Information
First International Power Users of ICT
Symposium:
http://powerusers.edc.org/symposium
Power Users of ICT Initiative:
[email protected]
Joyce Malyn-Smith, Ed.D.
Director Strategic Initiatives Workforce and
Human Development at EDC