In this study I wished to understand whether my short-term training intervention enabled teachers to design and implement a lesson in which technology is effectively integrated. Participants were 22 teachers, some of whom held positions on their school’s management team, and 80 learners from 4 districts of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education. Teachers in the province have been trained in computer literacy; however, sadly, this did not automatically translate into classroom ICT integration. Overall, teachers do not integrate technology into their teaching. A number of reasons for this are identified. People involved in integrating technologies into the teaching and learning process have to be convinced of the value of the technologies, be comfortable with them, and be skilled in using them. Therefore, a short-term training intervention was designed to test whether it can benefit teachers by enhancing teaching and learning through communication and collaboration, by means of ICT. The results revealed that the teachers on the training programme gained knowledge of how to integrate ICT, that they collaborated, that their pedagogy also changed, and that their learners felt that their learning was improved. To ensure realistic and holistic solutions for policymakers, district and school officials, the factors that prevent teachers from making full use of ICT were also iterated. Detailed results and implications of the results are discussed.

This thesis contributes to the area of Information and Communication for Development and emphases on bridging the digital divide between developed and developing society. Particularly, this project focuses on the empowerment of youth in resource poor community trough ICT training. This thesis conducts a one month field study in Kenya and applies case study method. The aim of the thesis is to evaluate the outcome of Craft Silicon Computer Training Bus project from two perspective, individual empowerment and economic empowerment. Then, practical suggestions are proposed for improvement. Individual empowerment refers to the students’ attitude and skills gained during the training. The economic empowerment indicates employment promotion in ICT-related industry. The case target is Craft Silicon Computer Training Bus project which provides ICT training to youth living in Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya. The evaluation framework of this thesis combines the core indicators of computer training outcomes which proposed by Daniel A. W, et al and the pathway model which proposed by O’Donnell, et al. After the evaluation, practicing suggestions are provided to improve the training program regarding provide high quality training and promote employment opportunities simultaneously. Firstly, the result of this thesis could help Craft Silicon Foundation to recognize the pros and cons of this project and to improve the training. Secondly, the participants of the training could benefit from the improvement and achieve a better study result. Finally, other training programs could learn from the experience of Craft Silicon Computer Bus Project and improve their own programs.

The United Nations has stated nine targets in the process to reach their sustainable development goal number five: to achieve gender equality in 2030. One of them is to enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology (ICT), to promote the empowerment of women. One important tool to enabling ICT for women is through education. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcome of an ICT skill training for female university students and recent graduates in Tanzania. A field study was carried out in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where a case study was conducted at Help to Help’s IT boot camp, a 6-day long ICT training for 82 female university students and recent graduates. The data were collected with mixed methods, mainly through a two-part survey which was complemented with interviews, a pre- and post- skill test, observations, and a workshop during the training. The data have been analysed with a thematical and a statistical analysis using the method paired t-test. By participating in the training, the women gain the expected ICT skills, and those skills are relevant for a future employment. The IT boot camp contributes to increasing the women’s confidence and interest in using ICT. Their general confidence is increased as well, however there is still a gap between their practical knowledge and their dreams to start and run their own business by self-employment. Furthermore, the IT boot camp contributes to awareness of gender equality. For many of the participants this is the beginning of a long process towards awareness and addressing gender issues in their everyday life. The analysis indicates there could be some improvement in the training to increase the probability of a future employmentfor the women. The training goes in line with and is a contributing factor to the United Nations sustainable development goals in 2030, particularly goal number five: to achieve gender equality. / Förenata nationerna har fastställt nio strategier i processen för att nå det globala hållbarhetsmålet nummer fem: att uppnå jämställdhet år 2030. En av strategierna är att öka användningen av teknologi, i synnerhet informations- och kommunikationsteknik (IKT), för att främja stärkandet av kvinnor. För att möjliggöra och öka IKT-användningen är utbildning ett viktigt verktyg. Syftet med denna studie är att utvärdera resultatet av en IKT-utbildning för kvinnliga universitetsstudenter och nyutexaminerade i Tanzania.  En fältstudie urfördes i Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, fär en fallstudie på Help to Helps IT boot camp, en 6 dagar lång IKT-utbildning för 82 kvinnliga universitetsstudenter och nyutexaminerade, genomfördes. Data samlades in med blandade metoder, främst genom en tvådelad enkätundersökning som kompletterades med intervjuer, ett för- och efterfärdighetstest, observationer samt en workshop under utbildningen. Data analyserades med en tematisk och en statistisk analys med hjölp av ett paired t-test. Genom att delta i utbildningen tillgodoser sig kvinnorna de förväntade IKT-färdigheterna, vilka är relevanta för en framtida anställning. IKT-utbildningen bidrar till att öka kvinnors självförtroende och intresse att använda IKT samtidigt som deras generella självförtroende ökar. Det finns dock ett gap mellan kvinnornas självförtroende att starta och driva eget företag och deras praktiska kunskaper att göra det. Vidare bidrar IKT-utbildningen till en ökad medvetenhet om jämställdhet. För många av deltagarna är detta början på en lång process att förstå och identifiera jämställdhet i deras vardag. Analysen indikerar att det finns utrymme till att förbättra utbildningen för att öka sannolikheten för en framtida anställning för kvinnorna. Utbildningen går i linje med och är en bidragande faktor till Förenta nationernas globala mål för hållbar utveckling år 2030, framför allt mål nummer fem: att uppnå jämställdhet.

La formation à distance (FAD) est de plus en plus utilisée dans le cadre de la formation des enseignants aux technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC). Dans les pays en voie de développement, elle permet non seulement de réduire les coûts par rapport à une formation traditionnelle, mais aussi de modéliser des pratiques pédagogiques exemplaires qui permettent de maximiser le recours aux TIC. En ce sens, la formation continue des enseignants aux TIC par des cours à distance qui intègrent des forums de discussion offre plusieurs avantages pour ces pays. L’évaluation des apprentissages réalisés dans les forums reste cependant un problème complexe. Différents modèles et différentes procédures d’évaluation ont été proposés par la littérature, mais aucun n’a encore abordé spécifiquement la culture e-learning des participants telle qu’elle est définie par le modèle IntersTICES (Viens, 2007 ; Viens et Peraya, 2005). L’objectif de notre recherche est l’élaboration d’une grille opérationnelle pour l’analyse de la culture e-learning à partir des contenus de différents forums de discussion utilisés comme activité de formation dans un cours à distance. Pour développer cette grille, nous utiliserons une combinaison de modèles recensés dans la revue de littérature afin de circonscrire les principaux concepts et indicateurs à prendre en compte pour ensuite suivre les procédures relatives à l’analyse de la valeur, une méthodologie qui appelle la production d’un cahier des charges fonctionnel, la production de l’outil, puis sa mise à l’essai auprès d’experts. Cette procédure nous a permis de mettre sur pied une grille optimale, opérationnelle et appuyée par une base théorique et méthodologique solide. / The reality of a globally interconnected knowledge society is now possible by the continuous advances in Information and Telecommunications Technology (ICT) in which broadband availability has made possible for people to meet, discuss, learn, and innovate in virtual spaces: anywhere and anytime. For this society, the education system has no boundaries with virtual spaces used by educators and students alike to learn and exchange knowledge: the knowledge and role of the teachers in this case is fundamental to the successful development of this society. As such, distance learning is increasingly used for training teachers not only in ICT but also in the use of pedagogical tools that can improve the in-class learning. With the limited availability of physical exchanges, developing countries are main beneficiaries of distance education as it not only provides high quality learning as it attracts worldwide experts in its forums at a fraction of the costs when compared to the traditional face-to-face training but also allows for modeling best teaching practices that can maximize the benefits of ICT in the education system. In this sense, the ICT training of teachers in distance learning courses allows for a wide range and a high qualitative exchange in these discussion forums, which is a clear advantage for developing countries. The evaluation of learning achieved in the forums, however, remains a complex problem. Different models and assessment procedures have been proposed in a wide range of literature but none have specifically addressed the e-learning culture as defined by the model IntersTICES (Viens, 2007 ; Viens and Peraya, 2005). The aim of this research is to develop an analytical framework for the e-learning culture using the contents of discussion forums for training activities in distance learning courses. In developing this analytical framework, we reviewed and used a combination of models identified in the literature and categorized key concepts and indicators for a value analysis methodology and a function analysis system technique. As result, we developed the framework and tested it with experts in the field. This process allowed us to develop an analytical and operational framework supported by a solid theoretical basis.

La formation à distance (FAD) est de plus en plus utilisée dans le cadre de la formation des enseignants aux technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC). Dans les pays en voie de développement, elle permet non seulement de réduire les coûts par rapport à une formation traditionnelle, mais aussi de modéliser des pratiques pédagogiques exemplaires qui permettent de maximiser le recours aux TIC. En ce sens, la formation continue des enseignants aux TIC par des cours à distance qui intègrent des forums de discussion offre plusieurs avantages pour ces pays. L’évaluation des apprentissages réalisés dans les forums reste cependant un problème complexe. Différents modèles et différentes procédures d’évaluation ont été proposés par la littérature, mais aucun n’a encore abordé spécifiquement la culture e-learning des participants telle qu’elle est définie par le modèle IntersTICES (Viens, 2007 ; Viens et Peraya, 2005). L’objectif de notre recherche est l’élaboration d’une grille opérationnelle pour l’analyse de la culture e-learning à partir des contenus de différents forums de discussion utilisés comme activité de formation dans un cours à distance. Pour développer cette grille, nous utiliserons une combinaison de modèles recensés dans la revue de littérature afin de circonscrire les principaux concepts et indicateurs à prendre en compte pour ensuite suivre les procédures relatives à l’analyse de la valeur, une méthodologie qui appelle la production d’un cahier des charges fonctionnel, la production de l’outil, puis sa mise à l’essai auprès d’experts. Cette procédure nous a permis de mettre sur pied une grille optimale, opérationnelle et appuyée par une base théorique et méthodologique solide. / The reality of a globally interconnected knowledge society is now possible by the continuous advances in Information and Telecommunications Technology (ICT) in which broadband availability has made possible for people to meet, discuss, learn, and innovate in virtual spaces: anywhere and anytime. For this society, the education system has no boundaries with virtual spaces used by educators and students alike to learn and exchange knowledge: the knowledge and role of the teachers in this case is fundamental to the successful development of this society. As such, distance learning is increasingly used for training teachers not only in ICT but also in the use of pedagogical tools that can improve the in-class learning. With the limited availability of physical exchanges, developing countries are main beneficiaries of distance education as it not only provides high quality learning as it attracts worldwide experts in its forums at a fraction of the costs when compared to the traditional face-to-face training but also allows for modeling best teaching practices that can maximize the benefits of ICT in the education system. In this sense, the ICT training of teachers in distance learning courses allows for a wide range and a high qualitative exchange in these discussion forums, which is a clear advantage for developing countries. The evaluation of learning achieved in the forums, however, remains a complex problem. Different models and assessment procedures have been proposed in a wide range of literature but none have specifically addressed the e-learning culture as defined by the model IntersTICES (Viens, 2007 ; Viens and Peraya, 2005). The aim of this research is to develop an analytical framework for the e-learning culture using the contents of discussion forums for training activities in distance learning courses. In developing this analytical framework, we reviewed and used a combination of models identified in the literature and categorized key concepts and indicators for a value analysis methodology and a function analysis system technique. As result, we developed the framework and tested it with experts in the field. This process allowed us to develop an analytical and operational framework supported by a solid theoretical basis.

ICT (Information Communication Technology) has enormous potential to positively impact educational institutions in developing countries. This thesis presents the results of a five month participatory study conducted in Bushenyi, Uganda on the impact ICT and ICT training had on a local primary school. This research specifically investigated the benefits and the problems associated with ICT in education, as well as, the impact of culture, training methods and research methodology.

ICT (Information Communication Technology) has enormous potential to positively impact educational institutions in developing countries. This thesis presents the results of a five month participatory study conducted in Bushenyi, Uganda on the impact ICT and ICT training had on a local primary school. This research specifically investigated the benefits and the problems associated with ICT in education, as well as, the impact of culture, training methods and research methodology.