ICT for Development

Where information and communication technologies are central to social and economic development


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Computers to Educate

Country

Colombia

Regions

Global, Africa, Latin America

Programme Summary

With the participation of the Department of Communications and Education (SENA - Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje Regional Antioquia), private enterprise, and the Canadian Government, the Presidency of the Republic of Colombia heads the programme Computers to Educate (Programa Computadores para Educar). This initiative collects computers that private or public organisations, or Colombian citizens, no longer use for reconditioning and delivery without cost to schools in all regions of Colombia. Objectives include:
  • improving education in Colombia
  • facilitating the young generation's access to new information and communication technology (ICT)
  • contributing to the formation of a cadre of youth prepared to face the challenges of the present world
  • diminishing the gap among those with access to resources and technological benefits and those without.

Communication Strategies

Since the year 2000, when Computers to Educate was officially launched, communication campaigns have been carried out in an effort to make students and teachers aware of and interested in learning with computers. Communication channels have included television announcements, entertainment-style events, a colourful and interactive website (in Spanish only), and posters. The private organisations that support the programme do so not only by donating computers or software but also by engaging in these educational and promotional activities.

Along these lines, in an effort to ensure that the technology will have a positive impact on education, organisers have developed a process to train and advise the institutions' beneficiaries. Over a 16-month period, communities are guided in the development of curricula that integrate the use of computers with the academic programmes and everyday life. With the support of universities and specialised programmes, organisers strive to make the provision of computers a basis for the development of complementary initiatives. The idea is that providing schools with access to the Internet supports learning by permitting access to educational resources in the form of research materials, educational software, online libraries, and interaction with students and professors in other institutions around the world.

Development Issues

Education, Children, Youth, Technology.

Partners

Microsoft, IBM, Hewlett Packard, Aerolíneas Tampa, ANDI, Sun Microsystems, Saferbo.

Contact

Microsoft, IBM, Hewlett Packard, Aerolíneas Tampa, ANDI, Sun Microsystems, Saferbo.

Programa Computadores para Educar

Edificio Murillo Toro

Carrera 8 entre calles 12 y 13 – Piso 5

Santafé de Bogotá, D.C.

Teléfonos:

Línea nacional: 01-8000-919-273

Bogotá: (1) 344-2258

Barranquilla: (5) 371-7374 >br>Cali: (2) 666-6430

Medellín (4) 301-4372

Cúcuta (7) 578-1924

Fax: (091) 344-2247

Email: fcamargo@mincomunicaciones.gov.co

O visite la página web.

Source

Computers to Educate website (in Spanish only).

Placed on La Iniciativa de Comunicaci


Placed on the Communication Initiative site March 17 2005
Last Updated March 17 2005



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It is difficult to find specific examples of technological advancements in Colombia and this site helped tremendously.

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