What should the Internet of Education (IoEd) aim for in emerging economies?

 1. Increasing  access, quality and equity in education. Mass basing before class basing.

2.      Connectivity so as to augment enrolment in primary schooling, even for those adults who need it.    
3.      Increasing enrolment at secondary level, in both general academic and vocational streams by making education less of 'rote ' learning and more of gaming.   
4.      Improving schooling in newly growing smaller urban areas and rural areas. As urbanization occurs, school amenities have to improve in the new growth areas. At the same time, far flung and remote areas  should have technological accessibility.
5.      Supporting migrant children from rural to urban areas . These are the lost souls who need to find continuity in learning through the medium of technology.  
6.      Ensuring greater school autonomy. Learning must be less bureaucracy driven and mor initiative encouraged.
7.      Introducing more advanced pedagogical methods. The yawning gap between advanced and emerging and emerging and frontier economies must be bridged through interconnected technology.   
8.      Helping  upgrade the awareness, skills and qualification of teachers. Rationalising structure so that technological supporters and systems have an integrated part, motivating through monetary and non-monetary incentives.
9.      Instilling more creativity and adaptability to technology in students.
10.  Evening out  any  regional disparities in education.
11.  Mitigating digital divides based on economic income and social  inequalities.
12.  Emphasizing the importance of norms around universal access to minimum levels of connectivity infrastructure[1].
13.  Working towards more financial   support to indigent students.
14.  Problem solving in technology  environments (defined as “using digital technology, communication tools and networks to acquire and evaluate information, communicate with others and perform practical tasks”).[2]
15.  Social rationale: Technological inter-connectivity  to prepare students for sophisticated thinking and position in society. . ( UNESCO's Idea)
16.  Vocational rationale:  IoEd must facilitate  appropriate skills for future jobs.( UNESCO's Idea)
17.  Pedagogical rationale: the enhancement of teaching and learning  . ( UNESCO's Idea)
18.  Catalytic rationale: the role that IoEd may play in realizing educational change. . (UNESCO's Idea)
19.  Information technology industry rationale:  blending technology  with education. (UNESCO's Idea)
20.  Cost-Effective rationale: the expectation that technology will reduce costs of education.[3]

Items 15 -20  above are based on UNESCO paper cited below.

These strands of thought are a part of the research work being undertaken by the author on the Internet of Education in Emerging Economies. Copyright of this article and its contents vests with the author of this blog: Jayaram Nayar. He can be contacted at email: jaynayar@gmail.com  

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[1] UNESCO (2013), Discussion Paper ,  (version 2: incorporating insights from Inter-sectoral consultations) , Internet Universality: A Means Towards Building Knowledge Societies and  the Post-2015 Development Agenda

10 August

[2]OECD  (2014) Education at a Glance (2014)2014 OECD indicators

[3] Butcher, Neil (2014) OECD Technologies in Higher Education: Mapping the Terrain