Empowerment
Technology
21st
Century Digital Age
Activity:
Think of the several applications you use everyday. Describe how
each application helps you accomplish everyday tasks at home or in
school. Form a small group and interview each member. Complete
the chart shown below.
Application I How Other People
How It Helps Me
Personally Use Use It
An excerpt of a research paper from Stanford
Junior University entitled “Obama and the
power of Social Media and Technology.”
“A major success factor for Obama’s victory
was how Obama’s campaign used social
media and technology as an intergral part
of its strategy, to raise money, and more
importantly, to develop a groundswell of
empowered volunteers who felt they make
a difference.” – The Europoean Business
Review, “Obama and the power of social
media and technology”, 2010, p.1
Empowerment Technology: A Definition
Empowerment refers to the process of giving
yourself, or other people, the capacity to achieve a
specific end-goal.
Empowerment technology refers to computer technology
that we use every day, which enables us to do tasks that,
in the past, require professional help.
Questions:
How does technology empower each
individual?
What results are achieved through
the use of technology?
Situation 1:
A fifteen-year old owner of a bakeshop
wanted to sell her cookies online.
Knowing that web development is a
complex subject, she checked online for
a free website creation tool. She found
WiX and she was able to put up her own
website in just an hour.
Situation 2:
The student council wanted to create a
video for their upcoming fundraising
project. When they asked for help from
videographers, they were surprised at
the cost given to them. So, the council
decided to find a video creation tool
online. They tried Powtoon and was able
to produce multimedia video in a day.
Situation 3:
A businessman is running late for a
meeting. To find the fastest route from
his office to this home, he uses Waze and
he is able to tell his estimated time of
arrival to the people waiting for him at
the office.
Empowerment Through ICT
Empowerment is a strategy that aims to give individuals
the tools and resources necessary to take initiative, as well
as, gather and analyze information or situations, thus
making informed decisions to solve problems and improve
services or performance.
In the context of Information and Communication
Technology (ICT), empowerment requires being
information literate and technology literate.
Information Literacy
determines the nature and extent of information needed
accesses the needed information effectively and efficiently
Understanding many of the economic , legal, and social
issues surrounding the use of information, and accesses and
uses information ethnically and legally
Evaluates information and its sources critically and
incorporates selected information into his or her knowledge
base and value system
Technology Literacy
the ability to use digital technology, communication
tools, and/or networks to define an information
needed, access, manage, integrate and evaluate
information, create new information or knowledge and
be able to communicate this information to others
Questions:
Why do you think these two literacies
must be linked?
What do you think will happen if the
other literacy doesn’t exist?
ICT and Society
Significance has been observed in four major aspects:
COMMUNICATION
ECONOMICS
EDUCATION
TRAVEL
COMMUNICATION
social networking sites
Instant messaging and video calls
Forums and webinars (web seminars)
ECONOMICS
online marketing
Convenient business transaction
Online payment gateways
EDUCATION
source of learning, teaching and
research materials
online learning communities
Recording and computation of grades
Managing records and other
administrative purposes
TRAVEL
online booking and reservation
online tracking of reservations
Reflect on your skills:
The top three requirements for applicant today are (1) ICT skills, (2) Communication skills, and (3) analytical skills. – Harvard Business Review (2012)
Students..
should be familiar with the basic concepts in ICT
Should feel confident about using computers
Should be able to use graphics appropriately
Should be familiar with using computers to communicate
Should be aware of how ICT change jobs
Can build and use robots to perform experiments
Should be able to use computers in art
Should be able to use computers in dance and music
Should be able to use computers for modelling and simulation
Should be able to use a simple statistical package
Should be able to use suitable graphics tolols
Should be able to create and play music using hardware and software.
Thank you!