Welcome to Rena and Åmot  Secondary School!

The opening ceremony by the Norwegian Minister of Education Jon Lilletun

Jon Lilletun held the opening speech on the "D@mer og D@t@" (Ladies and computers) conference held in Hamar. He arrived shortly before the opening and started his speech with a joke.

His main theme was ICT and education. He said that: "Education is to build yourself, make self-confidence and knowledge". He believes that the schools have responsibility to make things ready, for both girls and boys. The interests and needs are different. Girls are interested in different aspects of computers and computing than boys.-"Technology is a boy-thing, but girls have things they can give to technology boys don't have. There are too few girls in the computer-branch", the Minister says.

Vi are experiencing a major modernising within the education-system. That's why it's important that schools and teachers have knowledge and competence that is needed in the society. "It's all about being updated", Lilletun says, "more people have have to take part in the joy you can get from using computers. ICT is all about increased quality in schools, and it's an important tool to increase quality in schools."

ICT is primarily about human beings, information and communication. All students have to take part in this education. It's obvious that a lot of students know a lot more about computers than their teachers. Teachers have to see this as a challenge not as an obstruction.

Researches have shown that girls don't have the same knowledge about computers that boys have. Girls use ICT to communicate on equal terms and to create networks. Boys have more knowledge about technical aspects, they are more into games and using computers as a toy. But researches have shown, that when girls learn to use computers, the way the boys use computer also changes.

The Norwegian Government have decided to use more resources on computers and ICT in the primary and secondary schools. In the following four years we will use additionally 225 million NOK ( US$ 28.125.000), to use on ICT in the primary and secondary schools.

It's not just machines and equipment that needs to be better. In quite a few upper secondary schools there are computer-rooms with quite good machines, but they are locked up and rearly in use. It is the knowledge that has to be improved. Teacher Colleges have to be given more resources and everybody have to get out on the Internet.

It's very important to use resources on women, especially when it comes to ICT. No matter how far the ICT-development goes; technology can NEVER replace man.

We talked with Lilletun
We got to talk to Jon Lilletun after his speech, and we asked him some questions. We asked how the development was in planning computer-studies for handicapped people in Rena. The Minister said that if such a course is created it will be located in Rena, but nothing is decided yet. Some of the handicap-organisations is not sure if that a specialised handicap-study is the right direction.

We asked him if Åmot still will be a primary area for "Girls and ICT".

- Yes, it will be. You have to decide yourselves how to put ICT in your education. You can use local resources. Rena have a lot of ICT-knowledge, both in Hedmark College and the primary schools.

Main Norwegian

Speech
Sandra Crapper

Workshop - IKT i grunnskolen

Workshop Åmot ungdomsskole
(Powerpoint)

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