International Journal of Education and Development using ICT

International Journal of Education and Development using ICT > Vol. 2, No. 1 (2006)

Cultural perceptions: The missing element in the implementation of ICT in developing countries

Abdulkafi Albirini, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA

Abstract
Given the widely recognized importance of culture for the successful implementation of information and communication technology (ICT), this study explored the cultural perceptions of high school EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers in Syria toward ICT. Using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, the study sought to determine the teachers’ overall perceptions of ICT as influenced by their national culture and school culture(s). The findings point to a notable conservatism in participants’ perception of ICT in education and society at large. Teachers were mainly concerned about the morally damaging effect of ICT, its inattentiveness to their cultural and language needs, and its growing primacy at the expense of other societal needs. Hence, participants urged for the creation of local computers and software that would better serve Syrian identity and culture. The implications of the findings are discussed.

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