Economically disadvantaged communities in many regions around the world are making concerted efforts to become integrated into the global information society. The adoption and use of an array of technology tools and services by these communities will pave the way for their inclusion. Adoption and Use of Technology Tools and Services by Economically Disadvantaged Communities: Implications for Growth and Sustainability examines the challenges facing economically disadvantaged communities with respect to their digital divide and emerging opportunities as they adopt modern ICT tools and services for growth and sustainability. Focus is given to research on ICT adoption, use, and impact on lives, businesses, and societies. Covering topics such as the digital divide, food traceability, and big data analytics, this premier reference source is an excellent resource for sociologists, government officials, community leaders, students and educators of higher education, librarians, researchers, and academicians.

Economically disadvantaged communities in many regions around the world are making concerted efforts to become integrated into the global information society. The adoption and use of an array of technology tools and services by these communities will pave the way for their inclusion. Adoption and Use of Technology Tools and Services by Economically Disadvantaged Communities: Implications for Growth and Sustainability examines the challenges facing economically disadvantaged communities with respect to their digital divide and emerging opportunities as they adopt modern ICT tools and services for growth and sustainability. Focus is given to research on ICT adoption, use, and impact on lives, businesses, and societies. Covering topics such as the digital divide, food traceability, and big data analytics, this premier reference source is an excellent resource for sociologists, government officials, community leaders, students and educators of higher education, librarians, researchers, and academicians.

In the last thirty years, the educational system has become increasingly more diverse. In some school systems, the majority is now slowly moving towards being the minority within the next ten to fifteen years. Educators are confronted with several questions: How can instruction be more engaging and relevant to the needs of learners? What strategies can be employed to meet the needs of learners at different levels of the educational ladder, within the same level and in the same classroom and given the achievement gap how can educators ensure that all students learn without lowering the standards for high achieving students? This book in some ways explores these and more questions that are at the heart of teaching and learning. The contributors, who are all classroom teachers, educators or practitioners at varying levels of the education system, propose and discuss strategies that are effective in advancing student learning. After reviewing literature on research and effective teaching, the author of Chapter One pointed out that the ways to prepare effective teachers is still a work in progress and that the broad areas of subject matter specialization, certification and experience are all still valid in the discussion of effective teachers. The book is divided into five sections: Theoretical Framework, Teaching English Language Arts, Teaching Science and Mathematics, Information Technology and Assessment. Each section provides readers with issues affecting instruction and effective strategies. This book is a useful resource for prospective and practicing teachers, especially those working in schools with diverse populations.

Following the pioneering work of James Beane and Heidi Jacobs, there is now a growing interest in the area of integrative teaching. At the middle level area, there are attempts to encourage teachers to work in integrating the curriculum in interdisciplinary teams. This book builds on earlier works on curriculum integration. Contributors to this edited volume include K-12 principals and teachers, as well as university professors recently involved in the implementation of integrative teaching.

Women have historically provided vision and leadership to African countries and are now being recognized as pivotal to the overall sustainable development of Africa. In many cases, however, this recognition has not resulted in the empowerment of African women, who still face great discrimination. This edited volume explores the contributions women have made to all phases of development--planning, design, construction, implementation, and operation--and the obstacles they have had to face. Besides analyzing the current situation and identifying trends, the contributors also make recommendations for policy reform and for future planning.