Information and communication technologies (ICT) in education: teachers - mediators - mentors

Author(s)

Thaís Helena de Camargo Barros

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Comunicações e Artes (ECA/SBD)
• Defense date: 2011-10-31

Examining board members

Gilson Schwartz; Eugênio Bucci; Leny Magalhaes Mrech

• Advisor: Gilson Schwartz

Abstract

The overall objective of this dissertation is to analyze the teacher/student relationship in the digital culture, identifying the possible roles teachers are beginning to play in this context where social bonds are being reconfigured. In the globalized or post-modern world, the creation of knowledge has acquired a major place in the social and cultural structure, especially in institutions, among which companies and schools prevail. New ways of producing, learning, teaching, consuming and relating are being constantly created. A world undergoing transformation, in which the inclusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is intense, however, is not at the center of discussions, as many times stated--or criticized. The question here is how people incorporate this new way of interacting to sustain such changes. Learning processes have won a distinct notability. This is reflected in investments to generate scenarios that stimulate knowledge and innovation and increasingly make use of audiovisual media, which provides for more creative and encompassing pedagogical actions. In companies, people management is becoming more complex, especially when it comes to corporate education processes. At the same time, at schools, the training for the job market is being potentialized. The approximation of these two universes, adopted in this research, has an innovative and provoking character to the extent that it proposes a reflection about Education--more specifically about school--under the perspective of the organizational culture, and not under the point of view of pedagogical theories and practices. This approach relied on theoretical bases in the fields of Educommunication, Information Economics and Psychoanalysis. One of the principles that guide the study is the concept of mentoring, a process which aims at inspiring and prompting people to develop their potentials. It is sustained by exchange with no hierarchization of knowledge, and values learning, experimenting and creating knowledge. Inserted into the educational environment back in the 18th century, this concept was incorporated by companies in the 20th century. In order to discuss the role of teachers in cyberculture, we based ourselves on the principle of likeness, present in lacanian psychoanalysis. This precept addresses how individuals show themselves, an appearance on which they rely when weaving social bonds. The study unfolded into a field research developed at public schools of the State of São Paulo, which observed the everyday life of the institutions, and conducted in-depth interviews with teachers and students. The research allowed verifying that the inclusion of ICTs at the schools of the public system frequently includes basic activities, many of which related to management, and occurs sporadically. The issue of relationship remains the center of attention, being some of the highest expectations of both teachers and students. In the scenario of digital culture, teachers still see themselves--and are seen--from the perspective of the long-established model. We obtained results that point at the importance of reflecting about the uses of ICTs, and, above all, the possibilities and the necessity of investing in the training of managers and teachers. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/06931-0 - Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Education: Teachers - Mediators - Mentors
• Grantee: Thais Helena de Camargo Barros
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master