The 21st century education context is generally characterised by three elements that constitute what is called the 21st Century Learning Framework. As can be deduced the key-defining feature of 21st Century education is that it is learner-centred. The first element of such a framework is Content Knowledge, or Foundational Knowledge that regroups core content knowledge, ICT skills and inter-disciplinary knowledge acquisition and development. The second component is about Learning and Innovation skills, that can be referred to a meta knowledge. This is about the learner’s ability to demonstrate innovative and creative skills, problem solving abilities and critical thinking as well as soft skills (communication and collaboration). The third element concerns humanism or life skills and values. It enables learners to acquire necessary skills to deal with the complex life and work environment in the globalised and information-driven world.

1. 
ICTs in Education
Drivers of Innovation and Enablers towards
Knowledge Society Development
Santally Mohammad Issack
Associate Professor
University of Mauritius

2. Evolution of ICTs in Education

3. The Knowledge Society

4. Definition of the Knowledge Society
Knowledge Societies are identified as societies
based on the creation, dissemination and utilization
of information and knowledge to enhance socio-
economic development.

5. Key Pillars of Knowledge Society
Information and Communication
Technologies
Knowledge Society
Education
Innovation
Development

6. What pedagogy for 21st Century?
Traditional Teaching
Traditional Learning
Passive Learning
Behaviorist Learning
Know-it-all

7. What pedagogy for 21st Century?
The biggest drawback
of our Educational
system - students are
not taught “soft skills”-
the competence to
discuss, analyse,
innovate and
communicate.

8. What pedagogy for 21st Century

9. Obsolete concepts in 21st century schools
 Computer Labs
 Isolated classroom
 Ban on mobile phones
 Traditional Libraries
 Standardized tests
 One-size fits all teaching

10. 21st Century Education
Media-Driven
Learner-Centered
Personalised
Virtual & Global
Networked

11. What Education for Knowledge Society?
Our existing system suits the industrialization
era – producing disciplined manpower to work
in a linear process model.
There is not a need to reform our current
education system, but a need to replace them
completely to address 21st century challenges..
Bill Gates

12. 21st Century Learning Challenge

13. Key trends in Education
 Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
 Promote informal and lifelong learning
 Virtual communities of practice
 Disruptive innovations – challenging traditional University
education
 Massive enrolments, increased access to quality courses,
but usually low completion rate
 Opportunities – Big Data applications in Educations e.g.
Learning Analytics (Educational Business Intelligence)

14. Key trends in Education
 Self-Organized Learning Environments

15. Key trends in Education
 Inverted (Flipped) Classroom

16. KeyTrends in Education
 Augmented Reality

17. SMART Learning Environment

18. Open Educational Resources
33 contributing partners
- OU UK, UNISA, USP …

19. Establishing enabling Policy Environment
 Ensure that investments in the Integration of ICT in
Education are directed by a single and unified
strategy to work towards a common National
Objective
 Ensure policy coherence by consulting all
stakeholders and to work within an integrated
framework for ICT in Education.
 Establish proper monitoring and evaluation of
policy implementation

20. Capacity-building of Educators
“........there is absolutely no way the bricks and mortar
institutions of teacher training created in the last
century will be adequate for 21st century needs........
....... the training needs of new and existing teachers far
outstrip the capacity of existing institutions.............’’

21. Change Agents

22. Pedagogy Revisited
Reconceptualisation
of Learning
Learn anytime,
anywhere, but more
important of all - learn
differently, just-in-time
learning
Skills-focused
Technology as the mediating instrument for cognitive
stimulation, skills development, ad-hoc learning
and knowledge construction/sharing

23. Other Key Actions
 Schools to be WIFI zones with improved Connectivity -
YouTube and Mobile Devices should play a key role
(Digital Learning Resources)
 Networked School Administration and Management
 A tablet per child in the Pre-Primary
 A proper Technology Plan at School Level
 Fund Research in Innovative Learning Technologies

24. Status- quo
Cosmetic
improvements
In 2022, in the constraint scenario, ICT will still
be at experimental level in schools and
Government promises will have moved from
offering a laptop per child policy to a
tablet per child policy to now a
mobile phone per child policy

25. TRANSFORMATION
3 54
6 7 8
?
1 2
54
The Next Generation
School
schools without walls interactive on-demand
curriculum
School building will become
temples of life arts

26. Policy Coherence Framework
FUNDING MODEL
ICT INFRASTRUCTURE
Innovations
Framework
Curriculum’s
Framework
Capacity Building
Framework
21st Century Learning
Knowledge Society
Building

27. ThankYou
 Drivers of Innovation and Enablers towards
Knowledge Society Development
Santally Mohammad Issack
University of Mauritius
ICTs in Education