Journal # 10. Lessons from the Global South (optional for extra credit)

Burns, M, Montavio, M, & Rhodes, R. (2009-2010). Lessons from the global south. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Temp.cfm?Section+March_April_No_6_1&Template=?Memb

This article talks about few impoverished countries like Mali, Honduras, Zambia and Indonesia that use different kinds of technologies to compensate for the overcrowdedness and poor conditions in their classrooms. For example 19 schools in Mali use a smartphone pilot program that allows teachers to access the Internet via a cellular network and conduct their teachings and educational activities.
In Honduras, schools use Interactive radio instruction and interactive audio instruction. This tool allows the students and the in-class teacher to interact with the radio- teacher and work collaboratively to solve problems and learn lessons.
In Zambia, where radio reception and electricity do not exist in many of it's remote areas, MP3 players have an important roll in bringing instructions and lessons to the classrooms.
In Indonesia, laptops are used for teaching in the schools. Even though teachers would have to share a limited number of laptops that keep being passed around from classroom to classroom, this has helped teachers tremendously and enabled them to have access to the Internet in their classrooms.

What can we learn from such impoverished countries?
I would say resourcefulness. How to do more with less. There should be ways in which we can bring technology to every class in America without having to spend a lot of money.

What can we do to help the impoverished countries have more access to technology?
We can certainly donate a lot of our technological equipment to the poorer countries. We have no shortage of outdated equipment that will make a great difference in schools of poorer countries.