Globalization, information and communication technologies, and the prospect of a ‘global village’: promises of inclusion or electronic colonization?

Abstract

This paper discusses the reciprocal relationships among globalization, information and communication technologies (ICT), and the prospect of a ‘global village’. The current metaphor of a ‘global village’ (regardless of physical access to ICT) is problematic, and can be interpreted as a form of electronic colonization. However, through such concepts as blurred identity, nomadism, and hybridity, a distinctly (post‐modern) ICT landscape can be redrawn in a way that accepts the global identity of the ICT, but denies the colonial erasure associated with the global‐village narrative. ICT, in themselves, cannot serve as an end in education, but the demand for critical education involving ICT is pressing as the effects of globalization are experienced. Three methods of promoting decolonizing criticality are proposed: critical emotional literacy, collective witnessing, and collective intelligence.

Notes

Charalambos Vrasidas is an associate professor of learning technologies at Intercollege, Cyprus, and co‐ordinator of research and evaluation at the Center for the Application of Information Technologies, Western Illinois University, Macomb, USA. He is the co‐editor of the book series, ‘Current Perspectives on Applied Information Technologies’, and the representative of Cyprus at the International Council of Educational Media.

Michalinos Zembylas is an associate professor of education at Intercollege, 46 Makedonitissas Ave., Nicosia 1700, Cyprus; e‐mail: [email protected], and an adjunct professor of teacher education at Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA. He is interested in emotions in teaching and learning, science and technology education, curriculum theory, and the philosophy of education. His recent papers have appeared in Educational Theory, the Journal of Research in Science Teaching, the International Journal of Science Education, and Teachers College Record.

Michalinos Zembylas is an associate professor of education at Intercollege, 46 Makedonitissas Ave., Nicosia 1700, Cyprus; e‐mail: [email protected], and an adjunct professor of teacher education at Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA. He is interested in emotions in teaching and learning, science and technology education, curriculum theory, and the philosophy of education. His recent papers have appeared in Educational Theory, the Journal of Research in Science Teaching, the International Journal of Science Education, and Teachers College Record.

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Notes on contributors

MICHALINOS ZEMBYLAS

Charalambos Vrasidas is an associate professor of learning technologies at Intercollege, Cyprus, and co‐ordinator of research and evaluation at the Center for the Application of Information Technologies, Western Illinois University, Macomb, USA. He is the co‐editor of the book series, ‘Current Perspectives on Applied Information Technologies’, and the representative of Cyprus at the International Council of Educational Media. Michalinos Zembylas is an associate professor of education at Intercollege, 46 Makedonitissas Ave., Nicosia 1700, Cyprus; e‐mail: [email protected], and an adjunct professor of teacher education at Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA. He is interested in emotions in teaching and learning, science and technology education, curriculum theory, and the philosophy of education. His recent papers have appeared in Educational Theory, the Journal of Research in Science Teaching, the International Journal of Science Education, and Teachers College Record.