Initiating and Managing SchoolNets: Lessons Learned Vol. 3

From the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Bangkok website:
"This publication is the third in the ICT in Education Lessons Learned series. This volume provides an overall summary of the lessons learned during the implementation of the UNESCO SchoolNet project, “Strengthening the Use of ICT in Schools and SchoolNet in the ASEAN Context”, which was funded by Japanese Funds-in-Trust (JFIT) and the ASEAN Foundation.
Experiences and lessons learned through the project have been drawn out and summarized in this publication to provide guidance for educators and others involved in initiating or managing national and international SchoolNets, particularly in Southeast Asia."

Beginning with an overview of SchoolNets, what they are and why they are set up, this book then briefly describes the UNESCO SchoolNet project’s objectives and key outcomes. Next, a number of examples of existing SchoolNets are provided and the features of successful SchoolNets are identified. Following this, the main factors to be considered when initiating and managing a SchoolNet are examined, including:

• Preparing the foundation for the SchoolNet;
• Establishing partnerships;
• Acquiring funding, information and communication technology (ICT) tools, digital resources and technical support;
• Building the capacity of teachers; and
• Initiating telecollaboration and other online learning activities.

Each factor is explained using examples drawn from the UNESCO SchoolNet project and existing SchoolNets. In the final chapter, the lessons learned about initiating and managing SchoolNets are summarised.