telematic networks in Education

Ricardo Ottoni (rjapias who-is-at ibm.net)
Thu, 11 Feb 1999 00:46:00 -0300

There's a research group on eletronic networks in Education in=20
USP/Brazil called ESCOLA DO FUTURO directed by PHd. Frederic Litto.
<http://www.futuro.usp.br>
e-mail: futuro who-is-at org.usp.br

Are the incorporation of new tecnologies in schools enough to change=20
traditional power relations in school education?

Aside the use of new tools and technology in school education isn't=20
necessary to re-think teacher/student roles?

In ESCOLA DO FUTURO it's possible to identificate at least two different=20
approaches of technologies educational use:

1)Sciences teaching through telematic group=20
(Ensino de ci=EAncias via telem=E1tica)
2)Human sciences teaching through telematic group
(Ensino de Humanidades via telem=E1tica)

Roughlly, group 1 focuses competence use of technology in schools and=20
disciplines' contents (products) and group 2 focuses competence use of=20
technology in schools and contents explicitated in comunicational=20
process in school or contextualized disciplines' contents (process).

Group 1 receive more money and suport than group 2.

Some brazilian researchers in this area advocate an "Education to=20
COMUNICATION" that can goes beyond the dicothomy described above,=20
warnning about the risks of a "make-up" changes only (new machines=20
aquisition by schools).