The Steering Group met yesterday afternoon to reflect on the report of the round table discussions which took place at the launch of the research . As a result of this reflection the following were identified as key emerging themes / potential strategic priorities for the new plan which will provide a framework for Limerick Community ICT Steering Group to respond to the issues identified by the research and further elaboarated in the round table discussions.
1) AWARENESS
It was agreed that significant work will need to be done on the area of awareness raising of the benefits of ICT and that this will need to be accompanied with lots of encouragement and supported opportunities to embrace the various forms of ICT. This work needs to be done within the Steering Group, with community centres, education and service providers as well as among the target group of those identified in the research if the key aim of addressing the attitudinal barriers identified is to be met.
2) EDUCATION AND TRAINING
The key concern here is to work towards the integration of ICT into all forms of learning opportunities.
3) EMBRACING ICT IN DAILY PRACTISE WITHIN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
WORK
The key concern here is to provide opportunities, resources and support to those within the community setting to embrace ICT as part of the day to day work and so be resourced to support those curently excluded to have more and more opportunities to experience the direct benifits of ICT.
4) INFRASTRUCTURE
The opportunities identified as important above can only become a reality if the the physical infrastucure is there. The concern is to bring the best tools available to bear on the target communties and to develop models of best practise in that regard.
5) BUILDING STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
Cutting accross all of the above is the commitment to building strategic alliances and working in partnership in responding to the issues raised by the research. As the planning continues towards firming up strategic priorites, agreeing objectives and identifying actions it will become clearer which agencies , organisations and groups are best placed to work with the ICT Steering Group on planning and delivering individual responses to particular issues.
6) TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Also cutting accross all of the above is a priority commitment to the provision of appropriate techincal support .
YOUR FEEDBACK ON THE ABOVE IS MOST WELCOME
Have we ommitted something that is key?
Do you have a question or a comment re any of the above?
Please post your comments and so participate in a very real way in the development of the strategic plan.
With thanks
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6 comments:
Education and Training - Yes integration technology across provision is critical and needs to be a key focus. However, in addition there also needs to be more 'digital litercacy' provision focused on practical tasks - texting, booking online, basic digital photography etc.
Also - Building strategic alliances is important, but also we must learn from the experiences of others so we need to continue to talk to/study similar initiatives from across the globe.
Building Strategic Alliances - yes this is important in order to advance each of the other strategic priorities; as we will need to work in partnership with a number of key agencies - community/voluntary, statutory, the corporate sector to name a few. It is a priority for the ICT Steering Group to secure significant funding - and this needs to be sustainable so that we will be able to affect real change, and this is one reason why building strategic alliances with agencies is important.
Thanks Elaine for this morning it was well worth attending. Jim Breens presentation definitely generated some new ideas but I think the iPhone because of cost will have to wait a bit.
Cost of hardware will always be the main obstacle when trying to equip any disadvantaged community. Their are projects running in both India and Africa using wireless enabled Laptops using the Linux OS and Open Source applications that are way below the cost of our cheapest budget price Laptops!!
Again we dont need to reinvent the wheel, what I am talking about has been done in areas far more disadvanted than Limerick, and appears to have succeeded.
I will pass on Links to websites that will explain more about what the possible alternatives are.........slan
Tony - I would love to hear more about the successes in other disadvantged areas . Will you let me have contact/ website details?
With thanks Deirdre
Sean
The need to understand that IT is part of our lives no matter where we are comming from is a priority
Hi all
Elane Doyle has asked me to contribute my 2 cents on this I have been keeping up to date with the work of Jhai foundation in Laos who bring ICT to remote areas of the world ( read more at www.jhai.org ) I believe that with the massve drop in hardware pricing lately that we can achieve results on low end laptops ( Dell have ones now starting at €229 each for the vostro range combined with the open source products now on the market. Also worth considering is the possibility of workstation virtualisation using Windows 2008 and Virtual PC to provide an easily rebuilt platform to reduce any Support overhead. Let me know what you think and I can give more information to anyone who requests it.
Thanks
Pat Browne ccsl.biz
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