The second meeting of the UNESCO ICT Competency Framework / OER Network took place in Kigali, Rwanda on 21 to 22 August 2019. The meeting brought together some 20 participants representing over 13 institutions in 12 countries (Djibouti Egypt, Kenya, Lebanon Mozambique, Nigeria, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Tunisie Turkey and Uganda), as well as representatives of the Rwanda Education Board ICT Department.
The ICT Competency Framework for Teachers (ICT CFT) Harnessing Open Educational Resources (OER) project was launched in 2013 to support ICT in Education Teacher training, through the contextualization of the ICT CFT , the development of OER-based teacher training materials, and the implementation of teacher training exercises with these materials. In the framework of this project, Ministries of Education and/or Teacher Training Institutions and/or Higher Education institutions from over 10 UNESCO Member States have developed training courses in that have been consolidated on the ISKME ICT CFT harnessing OER Hub available at https://www.oercommons.org/hubs/UNESCO.
The project has established a Network of participating institutions which have contributed to the ICT CFT /OER Hub. This meeting was the second annual meeting of this network, which serves as a medium for sharing best practice in the implementation of the ICT CFT by harnessing OER –based teacher training materials.
OER are learning, teaching and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or are under copyright that have been released under an open license, that permit no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, adaptation and redistribution by others.
The ICT Competency Framework for Teachers (ICT CFT) Version 3 was launched in October 2018. This document https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000265721. This document responds to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by addressing recent technological and pedagogical developments in the field of ICT and Education. It also incorporates inclusive principles of non-discrimination, open and equitable information accessibility and gender equality in the delivery of education supported by technology.
The meeting was opened by Dr Irénée Ndayamba, Director General, Rwanda Education Board who underscored in his presentation the importance of teacher training for ICT in Education. The meeting brought together some 20 participants representing over 13 institutions in 12 countries (Djibouti Egypt, Kenya, Lebanon Mozambique, Nigeria, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Tunisie Turkey and Uganda) , as well as representatives of the Rwanda Education Board ICT Department.
The objectives of the meeting were to review the implementation of the Network’s workplan for 2018/2019 and establish its workplan for the coming year. It also aimed to identify strategies to ensure the consolidation and sustainability of the network.
The Network discussed emerging trends and issues in OER, namely the use of Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain and its implications for supporting the implementation of Ljubljana OER Action Plan, Draft UNESCO OER Recommendation and implementing the ICT CFT Version 3.
In addition, two training sessions on the administration of the Hub was provided by ISKME to all participants with a view to supporting the management of the national sites more effectively by national representatives.
This activity is in line with the UNESCO’s objective to promote universal access to information through open and inclusive solutions and innovative use of ICTs for sustainable development (Major Programme V, Communication and Information, MLA2, Expected Result 5) agreed upon at the 39th Session of its General Conference in November 2017.
For more information, please contact Zeynep Varoglu at: z.varoglu@unesco.org