Networked Learning

School’s Access to ICTs (Stage 3)

Argentina is currently in the infancy stages of adopting technology in the classrooms for primary and secondary education.  As of 2005, only 60% of upper and middle income schools had access to the Internet ^[9].  Prior to 2006 there was not much of a technology infrastructure in the classrooms.   However, towards the end of 2006 Argentina agreed to partake in the MIT sponsored program “One laptop per child”.  The objective of this program is to provide low cost laptops to under developed countries at a cost of approximately USD $100 per laptop.  The current price of the laptops is USD $130 a piece and they must be purchased in 1 million laptop bundles. ^[23]

There are several challenges in the purchase and usage of the laptops in Argentina:

• The education budget for non-teacher salaries is USD $300 million and the purchase price for a bundle of laptops is $130 million, which is over 40% of the budget;
• There are 10 million students in Argentina and with a  purchase of only 1 million laptops, it is difficult to determine how the laptops will be allocated; and
• There are challenges in the development of the network infrastructure to support the usage of the laptops. ^[24]

Argentina is in Stage 3 of School’s Access to ICT’s.  This is an area that Argentina has improved drastically and was a challenge due to Argentina’s economic hardship.  Only 60% of upper and lower income neighborhood schools had access to the Internet.  The reason that they are not in stage 4 is that most schools do not have access to the Internet. However, they are now looking to develop a network infrastructure within their schools and have taken part in the “One Laptop per Child” Program.  With continued motivation towards using ICTs in school as well as continued growth in their economy, Argentina should be in stage 4 within a couple of years.

Enhancing Education with ICTs (Stage 3)

Enhancing education via the use of ICTs continues to be a challenge in Argentina.  Several key factors that enhance these challenges are as follows:

• Only 53.4% of Argentine teachers had a household computer;
• Only 18.3% of Argentine teachers have Internet access in their homes; and
• Only 50% of Argentine teachers have basic training in New and Information Communication technologies (NICT). ^[25]

Additionally, as noted in 2005, only 60% of schools in upper and middle income neighborhoods had access to the Internet. ^[15]

There are many challenges that face Argentina regarding the usage of ICTs to enhance education. However, based on research performed, Argentine teachers have positive feelings towards the usage of technology to aid in teaching.  Specifically, the Argentine teachers feel that technology will facilitate the completion of tasks as well as improve the overall quality of education.  Additionally, they do not feel that technology is a replacement of teachers. ^[25]

Argentina is currently in stage 3 regarding the usage of ICTs to enhance Education.  However, it will be a challenge to progress to stage 4 due to the fact that implementing a change as drastic as using technology to enhance education will be met with some heavy resistance, primarily due to the fact that a good portion of the teachers are not comfortable with computers nor are they comfortable with the usage of the Internet.  Obtaining the funds to finance the usage of technology for the enhancement of education will also be a challenge. ^[25] Another significant challenge that Argentina faces is developing an infrastructure that will allow for schools in poorer countries to be connected to the Internet. ^[26]

Developing the ICT Workplace (Stage 3)

Microsoft helped fund a recent program that offered specialized training for IT students and professionals.   Microsoft and Argentina’s Ministry of Labor agreed to co-fund 1,000 scholarships in 2006 along with the dedicated partnership of local IT companies, the creation of 600 more new IT related jobs resulted in this program. ^[28]

Argentina’s rapid growing software industry help promote the need for training programs in available in order for Argentine to continue and grow skill sets.  Local universities and certified computer facilities offered training for individuals.  

Solunet is one example of a vendor that provides an opportunity within Argentina for knowledge sharing of solutions within web development.  ^[27]

Argentina is at a stage 3 for developing ICT awareness and training.  There are several methods individuals can utilize on-line and in person training across Argentina, however not consistently spread in Argentina.  Both entry level and expert levels are offered to users within numerous fields of IT including, software programming, hardware engineering, and web design.  These training facilities areas have recently or are currently being developed in Argentina.