UNESCO ICT Competence Framework for Teachers

Using ICT Effectively
The way ICT is used will depend on the subject being taught, the learning objectives and the nature of the students.

The Framework Proyect
In view of the importance of ICT for education, UNESCO, working closely with its partner conducted an extensive consutation to identify the competences that teachers should develop to use technology effectively in the classroom. Thi work resulted in the UNESCO ICT-Competency Framework for Teachers.
The Framework argues that teachers need to use teaching methods which are appropiate for evolving knowledge societies.


UNESCO's education policies and projects:

• Inculcating the community's core values and passing on its cultural legacy
• Supporting the personal development of children, young people and adults promoting democracy and increasing participation in society, particularly among women and minorities
• Encouraging cross-cultural understanding and the peaceful resolution of conflict, improving health and well-being
• Support economic development, reducing poverty and increasing widespread prosperity
  

The Framework project: linking ICT, education and the economy
Three factors of economic growth
Economists identify three factors that lead to growth which is based on increased human capacity:

• Capital depending - the ability of the workforce to use equipment that is more productive than earlier versions
• Higher quality labour - a more knowledgeable workforce that is able to add value to economic output
• Technological innovation - the ability of the workforce to create, distribute, share and use new koledge
  

The three approaches of the framework

These three productivity factors serve as the basis for three complementary, somewhat overlapping, approaches that connect education policy with economic development

• Technology literacy 
• Knowledge depending 
• Knowledge creation

The modules
By crossing the three approaches to teaching based on human capacity development with the six aspect of a teacher's work, a framework 
 

TECHNOLOGY LITERACY IN THE EVERYDAY WORK OF A TEACHER

UNDERSTANDING ICT IN EDUCATION

A mother-tongue teacher understands the basic principles of using ICT in teaching, so he/she considers how to make the best use of an interactive whiteboard recently installed in his/her classroom. Until now, she has only used it as a projector screen.

CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT

The teacher realizes that using word processing on the interactive whiteboard would offer

a new approach to one of the basic skills in the curriculum. Word processing allows words to be changed and moved around without having to endlessly re-write whole sentences on paper.

Word processing can also be used for formative assessment.

PEDAGOGY

Using the word processing application, the teacher displays on the interactive whiteboard

some examples of poor writing. She demonstrates how, with a few changes in the choice of

words and the word order, sentences can be made simpler and clearer.

ICT

Initially, the teacher uses a word processing application on the interactive whiteboard while

conducting a discussion with the class.

ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION

For the second lesson, the teacher uses the school’s trolley of laptop computers so that each

student is able to carry out word processing on their own. She devises the two lessons in such a way that students will know exactly what to do in the second lesson, without the need for questions or discussion. This ensures the students make the fullest use of the laptops while they are available to them.

TEACHER PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

The teacher searches various websites for mother-tongue teachers to find teaching resources on writing skills, including exercises and writing assignments, stimulus material and ideas for lessons.

Technology Literacy

The policy goal of this approach is to enable learners, citizens and the workforce to use ICT to support social development and improve economic productivity. Related educational goals include increasing school enrolments, making high-quality resources available to all, and improving basic literacy skills, including technology literacy.