UNESCO SchoolNet

The UNESCO SchoolNet project, “Strengthening ICT in Schools and SchoolNet Project in ASEAN Setting”, was initiated in recognition of the need to assist teachers in integrating ICT into teaching and to facilitate participation of teachers and students in the Asia-Pacific region in SchoolNet telecollaboration activities.

UNESCO SchoolNet is funded by Japanese Funds-in-Trust and the ASEAN Foundation.

The project was launched in July 2003 and focuses on three subject areas, languages, mathematics and science. SchoolNet activities have been piloted in 24 schools in eight participating countries of the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) region: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam.

The UNESCO SchoolNet project aims to:

• Explore and demonstrate how ICT can be used in schools to improve the quality of education and better prepare youth for the demands of knowledge societies.
• Test innovative models of ICT use and of ICT-based teacher education.
• Encourage use of ICT in teaching-learning and materials development in schools and other educational contexts.
• Improve connectivity and expand access to the wealth of educational resources available via the Internet.
• Establish and promote SchoolNet in the Asia-Pacific region.

What is "SchoolNet"?

SchoolNet is an initiative that promotes the effective use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in learning through supporting the connection of schools to the Internet and by creating a network of schools. This network is envisaged as being a means by which to: build connections among students, teachers and schools; share information and resources; and prepare learners for knowledge-based societies. SchoolNet also encourages the creation of locally-relevant and high-quality educational resources through ICT and champions lifelong learning.

Extracted from: UNESCO SchoolNet