Updates from CountriesLiteracy, Technology & Expression in Uzbekistan

Literacy, Technology & Expression in Uzbekistan. Ari Katz. Digital Divide Network. Published July 2005. Online November 2005. When School Connectivity for Uzbekistan opened its first 30 Internet centers in schools in late 2003, its target users were unsure of what to expect. The program was greeted with overwhelming enthusiasm by teachers and students, who were gaining access to 21st century educational tools for the first time in Uzbekistan. But it was the first project of its kind in the country. Teachers had limited experience to build on and, beyond a vague knowledge that the Internet contained a lot of information, little idea of what ways technology could be used productively in the classroom. …The introduction of the Internet to Uzbekistan’s schools has seen many gratifying successes, some difficult challenges, and much in between. This article examines the experience of teachers exposed to the new resources offered by the program and reviews the obstacles encountered, the benefits accumulated, and the lessons learned from 18 months of program activity. …