Empowerment and ICTs: much more than IT skills

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This paper will argue that the way people learn how to use ICT, impacts on the way they relate to it and how they use it for their empowerment. As our world becomes more technological, even jobs that do not require specific training, search for employees with some ICT skills. Consequently, this may cause people to ignore what they would like to achieve in life, and choose to learn ICT skills just to be able to have an income. Thus, having access to free courses may be seen as a way to expand capabilities, however, Freire (author of Pedagogy of the Oppressed 1970), argues that being taught just a few ICT skills needed for your job, knowing the internet does offer many opportunities, is also a way of oppression (Freire & Guimarães, 2012). Therefore, drawing from findings from a study conducted in Brazil, this paper supports the idea that teaching ICT skills should use appropriate pedagogical approaches, envisioning the individual’s freedom of usage above technological proficiency.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEmpowerment and ICTs: much more than IT skills
PublisherDepartment of Geography, Royal Holloway, University of London
Publication statusUnpublished - 2014
EventPhD 2014-2015 Symposium - Conference paper - Egham, United Kingdom
Duration: 18 Sept 2014 → …

Conference

ConferencePhD 2014-2015 Symposium - Conference paper
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityEgham
Period18/09/14 → …

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