ICT for Development - infoDev

Since the project began, follow-up evaluations have
been carried out at each participating institution.
These evaluations were then used to design an evaluation
model for the project as a whole. This model,
designed by researchers from the Educational Computer
Science Area at EAFIT University, examines the
achievements of the educational population (both
students and teachers), together with impacts at the
institutional level.
The most important results of the Conexiones project
to date have been an improved institutional climate
within participating schools, changed roles and attitudes
of both teachers and students, the participation
and recognition of all students, and the consequent
improved self-esteem of students and teachers. As the
project team declares in its summary report, “the children
are very sensitive to their cultural surroundings—
in [Colombia’s] case, the conditions of poverty, intolerance,
violence, insecurity, and corruption affect them
very deeply. The conviction that collaborative construction
and sharing of knowledge…are means to face such
problems turns ICT into an important opportunity to
integrate school, community, and life.”
One of the most successful collaborative projects
undertaken by Conexiones is “Constructing an
Integrated Ecological Farm.” This project seeks to
strengthen the ecological, ethical, and cultural values
of students. As the project develops, students discover
the importance of land and small farmers in a country
whose economy has been fundamentally agricultural, as
well as the importance of living harmoniously with
nature. As students investigate the workings of an
integrated ecological farm, they develop proposals for
the design and maintenance of different parts of the
farm. At the end of the project, the students use dialogue
and consensus to integrate their proposals to
design a complete virtual (electronic) farm.
Impact/Results
Applying school curricula to everyday life with ICT
has improved the institutional climate within
Colombian schools and the self-esteem of teachers
and students alike.
The integrated ecological farm project has given
students a deep understanding of the importance of
farming and the land.
To date, the “educational agent” component of the
project has involved about 150 university students,
who provide voluntary service to the educational
community for one calendar year. The educational
agent component has now been extended to 30
municipalities of Colombia, 80 percent of which are
rural. In addition, this initiative has prompted the
creation of several other programs in Colombia that
support other national and regional projects.
Key Issues
Partnership
EAFIT University directs the project and hosts the central
network node. The Science and Technology Center
provides financial support for the educational agent
component. In 1999, some 55 university students were
placed in schools. In addition, the Antioquia
Secretariat of Education facilitated the participation of
four teachers to provide project support. Other partnerships
include financial help from the Colombian
Institute for the Development of Science and
Technology (COLCIENCIAS, a government organization)
and Centro de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Antioquia (a private
sector organization). A partnership has also been
formed with Fundación Corona COMFAMA.
Target groups
School children under 15 years old and their schoolteachers
in the provinces of Antioquia, Santander,
Bolívar, and Valle del Cauca in Colombia are the target
groups of the project. In designing the project,
Conexiones tried to involve all members of the community,
including children and teachers.
The activities initially proposed by Conexiones were
modified during implementation to respond to the
needs of user groups. For example, communities
expressed interest in combining cultural and recreational
activities with technological training activities.
This ensures that the community takes ownership of
the technology clubs, participates in the entire
process, and generates high levels of motivation
and interest.
Capacity building
Conexiones offers 180 hours of training for teachers in
participating schools. Training is offered in four installments
over an 18-month period, with each installment
Lessons Learned from Seventeen infoDev Projects
19