Information and Communication Technology Strategy Framework
at the Ministry of Education
October 2014
Introduction
This Strategy is the culmination of intensive debates on the important role
of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the education
system as one of the key learning sources in the modern world.
The prime inspiration has been the Royal Vision of His Majesty King
Abdullah II, which highlights the importance of knowledge based economy
and its significant role in the comprehensive development in the country
as well as making Jordan an ICT hub in the region. To achieve this
ambitious
vision,
government
institutions
have
developed
new
mechanisms to enhance productivity. Accordingly, the education systems
have adopted modern teaching methodologies that depend on the
provision of the updated networks and technology. However, there is still
need to revise and update the educational systems in line with the recent
technological developments, as well as preparing the human resources
that are equipped with the required values, knowledge and skills to
effectively compete in the national and international arena.
Developed technological tools enable teachers to create new opportunities
for learning through practice and to promote student achievement.
Moreover, studies have showed that information and communication
technology (ICT) and learning communities foster collaborative learning
through exchanging, retrieving and employing information. As a result, the
Ministry of Education considers the improvement and utilization of ICT
one of its top priorities.
The employment of ICT in education and the adoption of blended learning
method promote students’ skills and encourage self learning in order to
keep pace with the latest developments, as well as developing effective
assessment methods that evaluate students’ skills, achievement and
performance.
One of the most vital contributions of ICT in the field of education is easy
access to quality learning and training opportunities, and thus, equipping
student with knowledge economy skills. Accordingly, the Ministry of
Education has developed the Information and Communication Strategy
based on clear vision and mission that define the future of a high
performing education system, which in turn, contributes to the
community’s prosperity and growth in line with the best national and
international experiences; namely the Jordan Education Initiative.
The Ministry of Education makes tangible efforts to develop the action
plans of the ICT Strategy through effective linkages and coordination with
all stakeholders.
Vision
Provide all students with high quality education that builds their capacity
to use information and communication technology to enhance knowledge
based economy.
Mission
Effective utilization of ICT in the learning teaching process, and in the
administrative procedures at the Ministry of Education to enhance
innovation and excellence in the educational planning and decision
making. This is achieved through the provision of e-learning and the
adoption of learner-centred approaches as well as the provision of
integrated administrative information systems, equal access to ICT
services and the provision of supportive infrastructure.
Key Principles
1. Employing ICT in the development of interactive learning
environments responsive to the students’ needs towards high
quality effective learning.
2. Providing supportive infrastructure, qualified cadres and responsive
legislations.
3. Employing ICT to rationalize the educational decisions at all levels.
4. Developing procedures that ensure the security of information and
communication systems as well as the intellectual property rights.
5. Benefitting from the studies and reports on ICT in education at the
national, regional and international levels.
6. Providing awareness for educators, parents and the local community
on the significant role of ICT in education.
7. Adopting technological learning models and providing supportive
learning resources for the outcomes of the curricula.
8. Enhancing partnership between the public and private sectors to
ensure effective investment in ICT and create new job opportunities.
9. Developing an effective monitoring, evaluation and accountability
systems to employ ICT in the teaching process.
10. Translating the key principles of the ICT Strategy into action plans
in order to ensure its sustainability.
Strategic Goals
To realize the vision, mission and key principles of this Strategy, the
following strategic goals are identified:
1. Developing and sustaining the ICT infrastructure to support the
learning teaching process and the administrative process.
2. Developing and employing ICT resources and other enriching
resources.
3. Building the capacity of the human resources in the field of ICT.
4. Developing
the
administrative
and
educational
management
information systems to contribute to rationalizing the educational
decision at all levels.
5. Developing and accrediting a monitoring and evaluation system to
achieve the ICT Strategy Goals.
The followings are the sub goals emerging from the strategic goals:
1. Developing and sustaining the ICT infrastructure to support the
learning teaching process and the administrative process.
To achieve this strategic goal, the Ministry of Education will closely
coordinate with the Ministry of Communication and Information
Technology and other relevant institutions.
Sub goals:
1.1
Providing all relevant data on the needs and gaps of ICT
infrastructure.
1.2
Providing effective and creative ICT solutions to enhance the
learning and teaching process and achieve the desired
educational outcomes.
1.3
Providing inclusive ICT maintenance and taking all corrective
and preventive measures including crisis management and
e-security.
1.4
Providing access to all ICT resources and high speed internet
services for all staff at the Ministry of Education.
2. Developing and sustaining the ICT infrastructure to support the
learning teaching process and the administrative process.
The EduWave and other enriching e-learning materials have been
developed since 2003. Due to the increasing advancement in ICT
employment in the learning and teaching process, this strategic goal
was developed to enhance blended learning and variation in the
e-learning resources in the light of the adopted learning outcomes.
Moreover, this goal focuses on innovation and interaction among all
school communities.
Sub goals:
2.1
Providing an e-learning system that reflects the strategic goal
represented in encouraging innovation and exchanging
experiences.
2.2
Employing effective e-learning resources and benefitting from
the experience of the Jordan Education Initiative.
2.3
Developing and utilizing the e-learning content as far as
possible.
2.4
Institutionalizing methodologies for sustainable development
and employment of the e-learning content.
3. Building the capacity of the human resources in the field of ICT.
This goal highlights the importance of building the capacity of all
human resources in the field of ICT to ensure their mastery of the
required skills and competencies as well as employing ICT in
continuous professional development.
Sub goals:
3.1
Adopting a framework of all training programs that
effectively employ ICT based on the actual training needs.
3.2
Building up the capacity of teachers and supervisors in the
field of employing ICT in the teaching process, that in turn,
contributes to equipping students with the skills of the
twenty first century.
3.3
Employing the ICT based training programs to establish the
communities of practice.
3.4
Building the capacity of the human resources to enhance the
concept of change management of all aspects of the learning
and teaching process.
3.5
Benefitting from various experiences in the field of ICT to
build the capacity of teachers, including the experience of the
Jordan Education Initiative.
4. Developing the administrative and educational management
information
systems
to
contribute
to
rationalizing
the
educational decision at all levels.
This strategic goal highlights the development of administrative and
educational management information systems as tools for the
provision of accurate data, information and indicators for the decision
makers at all levels of the Ministry. These systems support the
Ministry’s future tendency to move towards decentralization,
authority delegation and accountability.
Sub goals:
4.1
Developing the utilization of Open-EMIS system to calculate
all indicators according to their procedural definition, as well
as producing reports and data utilization at all levels.
4.2
Providing
integrated
and
accurate
administrative
information systems for the Ministry’s staff to utilize these
systems in the decision-taking process.
5. Developing and accrediting a monitoring and evaluation system
to achieve the ICT Strategy Goals.
There is need to develop a monitoring and evaluation system to
achieve the strategic objectives during all stages of the Strategy’s
implementation. This would ensure the provision of information,
results and feedback on the operational process and support the
Ministry in achieving the Strategy’s objectives.
5.1
Developing and implementing a monitoring and evaluation
framework to follow up the realization of the ICT Strategy
during its implementation.
5.2
Developing effective evaluation mechanisms to evaluate the
students’ skills, achievement and performance resulted from
the employment of ICT in the learning teaching process.
5.3
Controlling the quality of the educational systems outputs
that are related to ICT employment in education through
conducting continuous monitoring and evaluation process.