The issues and concepts of globalization in the educational technology field is a very complex subject to explain. From this weeks readings many of the authors offer insight and also disadvantages of expanding educational technology practices in developing countries. From the reading by Jared Keengwe and Sandy Malapile, external factors of educational technology have the power to develop summits, international partnerships and create commercial educational technology corporations. However, not all of this comes with a fool proof design. The last section of the article explains that developing countries can still face brain drain, ineffective designs due to lack of educational technology literacy, and poor informational communication technology systems from lack of funding.
These issues recall a memory I had when I student taught in rural Southeastern, Ohio. I taught about 30 miles outside of Athens, near the West Virginia border. Many of the teachers and students could not use cellphones at their homes because of poor satellite signals. Because of this restriction, many staff and students have to rely on phone lines. Many students did not have internet access because major ISPs would not service that area. That meant that smaller ISP companies would service the far out areas at a higher price.
Having a first hand experience of the struggles of poor in informational communication technology in a first world country really puts me in perspective of how these developing countries can struggle.
From the Dubai reading, Interview with Mansoor Al Awar, I could understand the frustration he has an educator trying to integrate educational technology in a traditional academia setting. I relate because at the rural area I was at, technology was limited. Because of the limitations, educators were reluctant to adapt new approaches. My advisor wanted to use his overhead projector and VHS tapes because his preference and mindset of “we have been doing this for a long time and it works.” I admired Awar’s solution of being patient and setting the education technology to the highest standings. I feel for Dubai, that it is just a matter of time of seeing how other developing countries have adapted to new educational technology to feel comfortable.