ERIC Number: EJ773958
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Dec
Pages: 9
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0360-1315
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Available Date: N/A
The Implementation and Use of Computers in Education in Brazil: Niteroi City/Rio de Janeiro
de Fatima D'Assumpcao Castro, Maria; Alves, Luiz Anastacio
Computers & Education, v49 n4 p1378-1386 Dec 2007
The introduction of computer technology has touched off an actual revolution for teaching and learning activities. In the present study, we investigated the impact of the implementation and use of computers in the public school system, from the elementary grades to high school, in Niteroi city, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). This city, with a total population of approximately 500,000, was chosen for this study based on the claim it offers the best educational project in Brazil, and on the fact that it is ranked as the first city in terms of digital inclusion in the state of Rio de Janeiro, and the second one in all Brazil, according to IBGE--Brazilian Institute of Statistics and Geography (Census 2000). This is a rather significant standings and represents an important qualitative and quantitative feature in comparison to other Brazilian municipalities and even to the experience in other countries. In our survey, we found that 82% of the municipal elementary schools (from the 1st to 4th grades, equivalent to the elementary school system in the US, and to the first phase of secondary education in France, and 32% of the state schools, including secondary school (high school system in the US, and the 2nd phase of secondary education in France) have computer laboratories. Difficulties were observed, such as the adequacy of teachers' training and continuing education, computer laboratory schedule, number of computers available, and equipment maintenance. In this context, this work is useful for the establishment of policies of implementation and use of this technology in Brazil, since as yet there is no established world policy, despite UNESCO initiatives.
Descriptors: Teaching Methods, Foreign Countries, Equipment Maintenance, Computers, State Schools, Elementary Secondary Education, Professional Continuing Education, Educational Change, Technology Integration, Computer Uses in Education, Urban Schools, Teacher Education, Professional Development, Educational Policy, Program Implementation, Public Schools, Developing Nations, National Surveys, Access to Computers, Computer Centers
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Brazil
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A