ICT in Education Research and Innovation Group

The definition of ICT in Education goes far beyond that of a traditional computer connected to a network – it encompasses a whole realm of new technologies, including human language technologies, “smart” devices, wireless and handheld devices, merging media devices and high-performance computing concepts and facilities. It focuses specifically on the application of these technologies in an educational context and environment, and should thus be seen as a tool or platform to support education, not an end in itself.

The Meraka Institute's emerging ICT in Education Research Group directly supports the South African national Department of Education’s e-Education White Paper published in September 2004. e-Education entails the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to accelerate teaching and learning goals, particularly in the context of a developing world.

There are currently two major research and innovation areas within the group - the formal application of innovative ICTs to support teaching and learning in schools and a more informal approach of creating hands-on exposure for children aged 3 to 18 to science and technology careers. Examples of specific research topics within the group include:

• the application of mobile technologies in collaborative formal and informal learning environments;
• the application of gaming and blended media environments to support formal and informal learning activities;
• designing innovative, graphical learning environments for children;
• assessment and evaluation techniques for measuring learning outcomes resulting from ICT interventions in the educational domain;
• the use of multi-modal technologies in child-computer interaction environments;
• designing and developing physical/tangible learning objects (“intelligent e-toys”); and
• alternative learning devices and technologies to support education in a developing world context.

These pages will give you more information about this emerging reserach and innovation group, specifically about our approach and our current projects.