Paper on digital alphabetization (Spanish)

Today I would like to share a paper with you that was elected as the best within the session of "Comunicación del Conocimiento y Conferencias III" at CISCI 2007 (6ta Conferencia Iberoamericana en Sistemas, Cibernética e Informática).

The paper is written in Spanish and it reviews research on digital alphabetization in (rural) areas (Peru and Columbia in this case). I just put the recommendations here for your interest. This project was very interesting because all the participants (civilians) were empowered by a process that was built on dialogue. The projects surplus was that everyone got involved in the learning process. This of course delivered the best learning results. The brain behind this approach is my colleague Carlos Kiyan, who is a true believer in empowering the world to obtain a more humane future.

Recommendations
Programs of certification in digital alphabetization must integrate the verification of analysis of all the processes (methodology of the logical order of the processes). Along that same line, when a license is given, the aptitude of the citizen will have to be considered in the examinations for this license.

The proposal of the European Union (Computer Driving License) is interesting because it includes general concepts and does not relate them to products (Word, OpenOffice, Apple…). The essence of the certification must integrate the basis of all learning in regard to the technology, the analysis of processes, the attitude in front of the new technology, decreasing related fears. This will allow the citizen to surpass the challenge that she or he faces in future continuous technological changes.

It is also important to identify local leaders in the centers where the qualifications are organized. They can give feedback on and also talk through the qualifications that are proposed to them. This way we will be able to rely on citizens with an extra aptitude for continuous learning in/with new technologies. This in its turn will allow them to reinforce the knowledge of their companions.

Curiosity will stimulate learning; this will also reduce the fear of technology and hence create a society of citizens with more initiative in their search for learning. These citizens will become the actors that generate change, not only in a technological sense but in many areas of our future society.