Information and Communication Technology Strategy Framework

at the Ministry of Education

October 2014

Introduction

This Strategy is the culmination of intensive debates on the important role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the education system as one of the key learning sources in the modern world.

The prime inspiration has been the Royal Vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II, which highlights the importance of knowledge based economy and its significant role in the comprehensive development in the country as well as making Jordan an ICT hub in the region.To achieve this ambitious vision, government institutions have developed new mechanisms to enhance productivity. Accordingly, the education systemshave adopted modern teaching methodologies that depend on the provision of the updated networks and technology. However, there is still need to revise and update the educational systems in line with the recent technological developments, as well as preparing the human resources that are equipped with the required values, knowledge and skillsto effectively compete in the national and international arena.

Developed technological tools enable teachers to create new opportunities for learning throughpractice and to promote student achievement.Moreover, studies have showed that information and communication technology(ICT) and learning communities foster collaborative learning through exchanging,retrieving and employing information. As a result, the Ministry of Education considers the improvement and utilization of ICT one of its top priorities.

The employment of ICT in education and the adoption of blended learning method promote students’ skills and encourage self learning in order to keep pace with the latest developments,as well as developing effective assessment methods that evaluate students’ skills, achievement and performance.

One of the most vital contributions of ICT in the field of education is easy access to quality learning and training opportunities, and thus, equipping student with knowledge economy skills. Accordingly, the Ministry of Education has developed the Information and Communication Strategy based on clear vision and mission that define the future of a high performing education system, which in turn, contributes to the community’s prosperity and growth in line with the best national and international experiences;namely the Jordan Education Initiative.

The Ministry of Education makes tangible efforts to develop the action plans of the ICT Strategy through effective linkages and coordination with all stakeholders.

Vision

Provide all students with high quality education that builds their capacity to use information and communication technology to enhance knowledge based economy.

Mission

Effective utilization of ICT in the learning teaching process, and in the administrativeprocedures at the Ministry of Education to enhance innovation and excellence in the educational planning and decision making. This is achieved through the provision of e-learning and the adoption of learner-centred approaches as well as the provision of integrated administrative information systems, equal access to ICT services and the provision of supportive infrastructure.

Key Principles

  1. Employing ICT in the development of interactive learning environments responsive to the students’ needs towards high quality effective learning.
  2. Providing supportive infrastructure, qualified cadres and responsive legislations.
  3. Employing ICT to rationalize the educational decisions at all levels.
  4. Developing procedures that ensure the security of information and communication systems as well as the intellectual property rights.
  5. Benefitting from the studies and reports on ICT in education at the national, regional and international levels.
  6. Providing awareness for educators, parents and the local community on the significant role of ICT in education.
  7. Adopting technological learning models and providing supportive learning resources for the outcomes of the curricula.
  8. Enhancing partnership between the public and private sectors to ensure effective investment in ICT and create new job opportunities.
  9. Developing an effective monitoring, evaluation and accountability systems to employ ICT in the teaching process.
  10. Translating the key principles of the ICT Strategy into action plans in order to ensure its sustainability.

Strategic Goals

To realize the vision, mission and key principles of this Strategy, the following strategic goals are identified:

  1. Developing and sustaining the ICT infrastructure to support the learning teaching process and the administrative process.
  2. Developing and employing ICT resources and other enriching resources.
  3. Building the capacity of the human resources in the field of ICT.
  4. Developing the administrative and educational management information systems to contribute to rationalizing the educational decision at all levels.
  5. Developing and accrediting a monitoring and evaluation system to achieve the ICT Strategy Goals.

The followings are the sub goals emerging from the strategic goals:

  1. Developing and sustaining the ICT infrastructure to support the learning teaching process and the administrative process.

To achieve this strategic goal, the Ministry of Education will closely coordinate with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology and other relevant institutions.

Sub goals:

1.1Providing all relevant data on the needs and gaps of ICT infrastructure.

1.2Providing effective and creative ICT solutions to enhance the learning and teaching process and achieve the desired educational outcomes.

1.3Providing inclusive ICT maintenance and taking all corrective andpreventive measuresincluding crisis managementand e-security.

1.4Providing access to all ICT resources and high speed internet services for all staff at the Ministry of Education.

  1. Developing and sustaining the ICT infrastructure to support the learning teaching process and the administrative process.

The EduWave and other enriching e-learning materials have been developed since 2003. Due to the increasing advancement in ICT employment in the learning and teaching process, this strategic goal was developed to enhance blended learning and variation in the e-learning resources in the light of the adopted learning outcomes. Moreover, this goal focuses on innovation and interaction among all school communities.

Sub goals:

2.1Providing an e-learning system that reflects the strategic goal represented in encouraging innovation and exchanging experiences.

2.2Employing effective e-learning resources and benefitting from the experience of the Jordan Education Initiative.

2.3Developing and utilizing the e-learning content as far as possible.

2.4Institutionalizing methodologies for sustainable development and employment of the e-learning content.

  1. Building the capacity of the human resources in the field of ICT.

This goal highlights the importance of building the capacity of all human resources in the field of ICT to ensure their mastery of the required skills and competencies as well as employing ICT in continuous professional development.

Sub goals:

3.1Adopting a framework of all training programs that effectively employ ICT based on the actual training needs.

3.2Building up the capacity of teachers and supervisors in the field of employing ICT in the teaching process, that in turn, contributes to equipping students with the skills of the twenty first century.

3.3Employing the ICT based training programs to establish the communities of practice.

3.4Building the capacity of the human resources to enhance the concept of change management of all aspects of the learning and teaching process.

3.5Benefittingfrom various experiences in the field of ICT to build the capacity of teachers, including the experience of the Jordan Education Initiative.

  1. Developing the administrative and educational management information systems to contribute to rationalizing the educational decision at all levels.

This strategic goal highlights the development ofadministrative and educational management information systems as tools for the provision of accurate data, information and indicators for the decision makers at all levels of the Ministry. These systems support the Ministry’s future tendency to move towards decentralization, authority delegation and accountability.

Sub goals:

4.1Developing the utilization of Open-EMIS system to calculate all indicators according to their procedural definition, as well as producing reports and data utilization at all levels.

4.2Providing integrated and accurate administrative information systems for the Ministry’s staff to utilize these systemsin the decision-taking process.

  1. Developing and accrediting a monitoring and evaluation system to achieve the ICT Strategy Goals.

There is need to develop a monitoring and evaluation system to achieve the strategic objectives during all stages of the Strategy’s implementation. This would ensure the provision of information, results and feedback on the operational process and support the Ministry in achieving the Strategy’s objectives.

5.1Developing and implementing a monitoring and evaluation framework to follow up the realization of the ICT Strategy during its implementation.

5.2Developing effective evaluation mechanisms to evaluate the students’ skills, achievement and performance resulted from the employment of ICT in the learning teaching process.

5.3Controlling the quality of the educational systems outputsthat are related to ICT employment in education through conducting continuous monitoring and evaluation process.