Earlier this week, I returned from the Technology for Innovation and Education in Developing Countries conference in Maputo, Mozambique. I went to the conference to present my paper, Developing a Grade 10 History CD-ROM Using Digitized Materials from the National Archives of Namibia, and to discuss the impact of ICT on education in Africa.

Educators from many different countries and continents gathered to discuss their projects and courses. Topics ranged from elearning, computer science, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, elementary science education, literacy programs, and using ICT for development. The conference aligns with the international community's call for partnerships for development as articulated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the eighth United Millennium Development Goal and the Declaration of Principles of the World Summit of the Information Society (WSIS). Despite the seemingly large agenda of the conference, I came away from the conference realizing how much I have in common with other educators whether local or global. Additionally, these connections drive me to think about ways that I can establish collaborations with classrooms in the USA and abroad to promote cultural understandings and build new communities of learning surrounding STEM education.

One of our strands of conversation related to using local resources to teach elementary science education. Jane Falls from Virginia Tech talked about this topic in her paper, Using Local Resources to Create Sound Instructional Activities. James Williams, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana, provided an excellent example about using juices squeezed from local fruit peels to begin lessons about acids and bases. By using local resources, educators create an authentic and relevant learning environment for their students no matter where their location. Similar kinds of science lessons might focus on soil, weather, or plants to begin lines of science and mathematics inquiry. There are so many possibilities - local parks, farms, grocery stores, or streams. How are you using local resources in your instruction?

Another common theme in conference conversations related to ways that ITC assists in overcoming poverty. Does ITC help developing countries to deal with poverty? This is a difficult question and we spent hours talking about the issue. Take for instance, the growth of community multimedia centres or CMCs. CMCs are community radio stations that also host access to Internet and associate technologies such as fax machines. CMCs are promoted as vehicles for development and means for empowerment of rural communities in the fight against poverty.

On the second day of the conference, TEDC participants visited Radio Voz Coop, a radio station and soon to be CMC that was developed as part of an UNESCO Media Project. Radio Voz Coop is run by the União Geral das Cooperativas (General Union of Peasant Women). We had the chance to go "live" while visiting the station and ask questions about its mission and operation.  Listen to the TEDC radio broadcast - the MP3 file is attached below.

The third day of the conference, we visited a Safari Park and got a chance to see some zebras and water buffaloes. During our excursions and taxi rides to and from these events, participants reflected about how to use ICT for development.

Zebras at the Safari Park		Water buffalo at the Safari Park

Although we came from many different parts of the world, we shared a common bond of seeking to use ICT in STEM education to encourage, motivate, and bring about new possibilities to talk to one another about these issues.  Whether we were discussing how to use local resources for teaching mathematics and science, contemplating distance education opportunities, envisioning ways for students to collaborate via technology, or simply sharing a meal, the world became a much smaller place during the conference.

I hope you will share ways that you use local and global resources to reach your students in the comments area below.  Obrigado!