Final Exam

Al Akhawayn University
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Communication Program
COM 4304 Media for Development/ICTs4Dev

Spring 2008






Student Name: Hasnaa El Jamali


Student ID Number: 041DB 16095



How to submit the answers:
Create a blog, post the answers on it and send me the link to the advertising communication class email account. This is the only way I can gain access to your answers. If you do not want to play according to the rule of the game, your decision will affect your grade seriously.




1. What does ICT for Development or e-development mean for you? (250 words)

A definition of ICTs will help in answering this question. According to Ruth Ochieng and Jenny Radloff (1998), Information and Communication Technologies is'' a collection of computer networks which are capable of handling large volumes of data in text, image, voice and video format at high speed ''[p. 63]. ICTs are crucial tool in the development process of the country. Today, with the advances in technology and infrostructure and infrastructure, using ICTs for development purposes will help the country leapfrogging many unnecessary steps to achieve a based knowledge society. For instance, ICT would be used in many domains not only in education but also in tourism and economy and others. Using these tools will help the country in gaining time and spending fewer efforts. For instance, ICTs could work perfectly in education; for instance, students will benefit from the technology to widen their experience and knowledge by one click. Not only that, ICTs help in changing and polishing the behavior of students. According to Dr. Muskin, computers help in changing the behavior of students. Therefore, ICTs is the best tool in the new Millennium that should be used to leapfrog and build a knowledge based economy and participate in the wave of development.

2. How can we measure the digital divide? (250 words)

The world can be divided into two groups: people using information technologies in its different tools like phone, internet. ect and others who do not use them. The digital divide is the difference between people having access to information and people who do not. The digital divide is expressed as the gap between poeple who have access to the means of information and those who don't. The digital devide is not only about having physical access but it includes other aspects.

The digital devide can not be only about having access because this one is not enough. the digital devide is also about using the technology thanks to required skills and tools. Therefore, the digital devide put apart people who have access, skills, and knwoledge of the means of information and the ones who have not.

To measure the digital divide, one should look at the following indicators:
The first indicators are related with info-density. To get an idea about this indicator the following indicators should be measured:
1- Number of mobile phones on the household.
2- Number of the telecommunication providers.
3- Presence of Fixed telephone lines.
4- Different methods of access and bandwidth for internet use in the household.
5- Number of PCs.
6- Number of internet users.
7- Language of internet used in internet sites.
8- Barriers of purchase over the internet.
9- ICT expenditure by measuring the percentage of GDP.
Concerning the second indicator, one should measure the info-use by measuring the following:
1- Purpose of PC use.
2- Barriers to internet usage.
3- Purpose of internet use.

3. What should Morocco do to become a knowledge economy? (250 words)

To establish a society based knowledge economy, Morocco should fulfill the following: the first pillar in a society is providing accessibility. In other words, people should gain access to internet, to computers, and even more access to information. This step can be done through awareness campaigns in both urban and rural areas. Access can be encourages through providing training session and an early ICT literacy for children. Expending access through cybercafés is a good tool to leapfrog the problems related to accessibility.

The second important thing to provide is research. Moroccan specialists and policy makers should emphasize on research as an effective method to enhance the participatory approach and to examine the real problems the country is facing. For an effective knowledge economic society, the country should emphasize on the contextualizing the use of ICTs to fit the Moroccan context.
The third concept to focus is education. Providing lab and mandatory access and integrating them into the curricular program. Educational programs should have a goal and a strategy to re- orient the curriculum to fit with the purpose of ICTs. Encourage young teachers to innovate in terms of ICTs to develop the educational purposes in Morocco.
Among the problems, facing Morocco is in the management of development projects. Therefore, management should be the basis while implementing development projects. Follow up is another pillar in the success of any projects in the development agenda. Moroccan government should give a great emphasize on this issue.
Sharing knowledge is a key point in the success of a based knowledge society. Mentalities should change and people should regard creativity and sharing as two essential criteria. Morocco should restrict the brain drain by providing the following: effective policies and regulations, education and human capital, ICTs infrastructure, and encourage innovation.