Information knowledge and technology for Development in Africa


Book Description

Information, knowledge, and technology occupy significant space in the information and knowledge society and ongoing debates on development such as sustainable development goals (SDGs) agenda 2030 and the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). Disruptive technologies and cyber-physical systems, obscuring the lines between the physical, digital and biological, escalated by the COVID-19 pandemic, present a ‘new normal’ that profoundly affects the nature and magnitude of responses required to sustain and benefit from the new developments. Africa, known for its late adoption of new technologies and innovations, is leapfrogging development stages in several enviable ways. This book, Information knowledge and technology for development in Africa’, written by eminent African scholars, comprises chapters that satisfactorily address information access, artificial intelligence, information ethics, e-learning, library and information science education (LISE) in the 4IR, data literacy and e-scholarship, and knowledge management, which are increasingly essential for information access, services, and LISE in Africa. We expect the book to support research, teaching and learning in African higher education and worldwide for comparative scholarship.




Open Access and the Public Domain in Digital Data and Information for Science


Book Description

This symposium, which was held on March 10-11, 2003, at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, brought together policy experts and managers from the government and academic sectors in both developed and developing countries to (1) describe the role, value, and limits that the public domain and open access to digital data and information have in the context of international research; (2) identify and analyze the various legal, economic, and technological pressures on the public domain in digital data and information, and their potential effects on international research; and (3) review the existing and proposed approaches for preserving and promoting the public domain and open access to scientific and technical data and information on a global basis, with particular attention to the needs of developing countries.




Indigenous Knowledge and Education in Africa


Book Description

This open access book presents a strong philosophical, theoretical and practical argument for the mainstreaming of indigenous knowledge in curricula development, and in teaching and learning across the African continent. Since the dawn of political independence in Africa, there has been an ongoing search for the kind of education that will create a class of principled and innovative citizens who are sensitive to and committed to the needs of the continent. When indigenous or environment-generated knowledge forms the basis of learning in classrooms, learners are able to immediately connect their education with their lived reality. The result is much introspection, creativity and innovation across fields, sectors and disciplines, leading to societal transformation. Drawing on several theoretical assertions, examples from a wide range of disciplines, and experiences gathered from different continents at different points in history, the book establishes that for education to trigger the necessary transformation in Africa, it should be constructed on a strong foundation of learners’ indigenous knowledge. The book presents a distinct and uncharted pathway for Africa to advance sustainably through home-grown and grassroots based ideas, leading to advances in science and technology, growth of indigenous African business and the transformation of Africans into conscious and active participants in the continent’s progress. Indigenous Knowledge and Education in Africa is of interest to educators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers and individuals engaged in finding sustainable and strategic solutions to regional and global advancement.




Handbook of Research on Teacher Education in the Digital Age


Book Description

Traditional classrooms are fast becoming a minority in the education field. As technologies continue to develop as a pervasive aspect of modern society, educators must be trained to meet the demands and opportunities afforded by this technology-rich landscape. The Handbook of Research on Teacher Education in the Digital Age focuses on the needs of teachers as they redesign their curricula and lessons to incorporate new technological tools. Including theoretical frameworks, empirical research, and best practices, this book serves as a guide for researchers, educators, and faculty and professional developers of distance learning tools.




Handbook of Research on Social, Cultural, and Educational Considerations of Indigenous Knowledge in Developing Countries


Book Description

Knowledge systems are an essential aspect to the preservation of a community’s culture. In developing countries, this community-based knowledge has significant influence on such things as decision making and problem solving. The Handbook of Research on Social, Cultural, and Educational Considerations of Indigenous Knowledge in Developing Countries is an authoritative reference source for the latest scholarly research on the importance of knowledge and value systems at the community level and ways indigenous people utilize this information. Highlighting impacts on culture and education in developing nations, this book is ideally designed for researchers, academicians, policy makers, students, and professionals interested in contemporary debates on indigenous knowledge systems.




Encyclopedia of Organizational Knowledge, Administration, and Technology


Book Description

For any organization to be successful, it must operate in such a manner that knowledge and information, human resources, and technology are continually taken into consideration and managed effectively. Business concepts are always present regardless of the field or industry – in education, government, healthcare, not-for-profit, engineering, hospitality/tourism, among others. Maintaining organizational awareness and a strategic frame of mind is critical to meeting goals, gaining competitive advantage, and ultimately ensuring sustainability. The Encyclopedia of Organizational Knowledge, Administration, and Technology is an inaugural five-volume publication that offers 193 completely new and previously unpublished articles authored by leading experts on the latest concepts, issues, challenges, innovations, and opportunities covering all aspects of modern organizations. Moreover, it is comprised of content that highlights major breakthroughs, discoveries, and authoritative research results as they pertain to all aspects of organizational growth and development including methodologies that can help companies thrive and analytical tools that assess an organization’s internal health and performance. Insights are offered in key topics such as organizational structure, strategic leadership, information technology management, and business analytics, among others. The knowledge compiled in this publication is designed for entrepreneurs, managers, executives, investors, economic analysts, computer engineers, software programmers, human resource departments, and other industry professionals seeking to understand the latest tools to emerge from this field and who are looking to incorporate them in their practice. Additionally, academicians, researchers, and students in fields that include but are not limited to business, management science, organizational development, entrepreneurship, sociology, corporate psychology, computer science, and information technology will benefit from the research compiled within this publication.




Innovative Technologies for Enhancing Knowledge Access in Academic Libraries


Book Description

An increasing number of academic libraries worldwide are adopting innovative technologies in creating, organizing, storing, managing, disseminating, preserving, and enhancing access to their vital knowledge in order to adapt to the changing library environment and to stay relevant in the digital world. This transition necessitates a need for best practices and reimagined strategies of implementing innovative technologies to ensure sustainable knowledge access and increase knowledge sharing. Innovative Technologies for Enhancing Knowledge Access in Academic Libraries aims to provide best practices, innovative strategies, theoretical frameworks, conceptual frameworks, and empirical research findings regarding the application of emerging and innovative technologies in managing, preserving, and enhancing knowledge access in academic libraries worldwide. Covering a range of topics such as artificial intelligence, knowledge organization, records management, and library services, this reference work is ideal for librarians, researchers, scholars, practitioners, academicians, instructors, and students.




Enhancing Academic Research and Higher Education With Knowledge Management Principles


Book Description

Knowledge management principles, strategies, models, tools, and techniques have been proven in government, business, and industry. More recently, knowledge management has emerged as an essential enabler for the successful pursuit of scholarly activities in higher education. Knowledge management has significant contributions to make in capturing, storing, processing, and disseminating knowledge between and across these stakeholder entities and their processes to better support these interrelated processes and activities. Given the impetus provided by the United Nations Global Knowledge Economy Policy, institutions worldwide are actively pursuing the use of knowledge management in all facets of social and economic development. The importance of knowledge management research and application in academia is a critical element of this multifaceted endeavor. Enhancing Academic Research and Higher Education With Knowledge Management Principles is a compendium of cutting-edge research on the use of knowledge management in higher education and provides original, theoretical, and application-oriented research within this domain. The book will also provide insights on the management of expertise, knowledge, information, and organizational development in different types of work communities and environments. By including research on global perspectives, the implementation of knowledge management at universities, current trends in the field, and the results, this book is a valuable reference work for professionals and researchers working in the field of information and knowledge management in various disciplines, and academics, analysts, developers, students, technologists, education consultants, higher education administrators, academicians, stakeholders, and practitioners seeking to learn, improve, and expand their theoretical and applied knowledge of knowledge management tools and techniques, models, processes, and systems in higher education.




Contributions of Africa’s Indigenous Knowledge to the Wave of Digital Technology: Decolonial Perspectives


Book Description

Africa's contributions to global technological advancements are often overlooked, with many scholars claiming that the continent has yet to contribute significantly to digital technology. This misconception stems from a need for more understanding and recognition of Africa's indigenous knowledge and its role in shaping the modern world. The education curriculum inherited from colonialism must differentiate Africa's values and culture from Western ideals, leading to a devaluation of Africa's mineral wealth in technological advancements. Additionally, the impact of historical events such as the Atlantic slave trade and colonialism on Africa's indigenous knowledge remains largely unexplored, further contributing to the misunderstanding of Africa's technological contributions. Contributions of Africa's Indigenous Knowledge to the Wave of Digital Technology: Decolonial Perspectives offers a comprehensive exploration of Africa's indigenous knowledge and its crucial role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). By taking a decolonial perspective and examining the literature on African Studies, the book aims to shed light on Africa's significant contributions to digital technology. Through a qualitative research design and an exploratory approach, the book will collect and analyze data from secondary sources to showcase Africa's rich technological advancements and history of innovations.