QA4ODFL1/Infrastructure/Introduction

In many educational institutions across the globe, technology is now well integrated into the teaching and learning processes as well as into the management activities of the school. Some institutions also use technology for assessment purposes. Technology–enabled learning (TEL) has become the trend in both face-to-face and in distance education. Effective implementation of TEL in schools requires careful planning of infrastructural and human capacity investment. In this unit, you will learn about key aspects that relate to ICT infrastructure and logistics in open schools. Although much reference will be made to open schools, the ideas discussed equally apply to face-to-face environments.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:

1. Identify appropriate technology for use in your open school or country and advise relevant stakeholders appropriately;
2. Plan how the ICT systems will be managed to facilitate the smooth running of your open school;
3. Explain the ICT infrastructure investment needed for your open school to function effectively;
4. Describe capacity development needed by staff and students in your institution to work with the technology effectively; and
5. Evaluate existing logistics for distance education in your context with a view to recommending improvements.