Becoming numerate with information and communications technologies in the twenty-first century

This article draws on data from a three-year Australian Research Council-funded study that examined the ways in which young children become numerate in the twenty-first century. We were interested in the authentic problem-solving contexts that we believe are required to create meaningful learning. This being so, our basic tenet was that such experiences should involve the use of information and communications technologies (ICT) where relevant, but not in tokenistic ways. This article highlights learning conditions in which young children can become numerate in contemporary times. We consider ‘academic’ or ‘school-based’ mathematical tasks in the context of a Mathematical Tasks Continuum. This continuum was conceptualised to enable focused and detailed thinking about the scope and range of mathematical tasks that young children are able to engage within contemporary school contexts. The data from this study show that most of the tasks the children experienced in early years mathematics classes were unidimensional in their make up. That is, they focus on the acquisition of specific skills and then they are practiced in disembedded contexts. We suggest that the framework created in the form of the Mathematical Tasks Continuum can facilitate teachers thinking about the possible ways in which they could extend children’s academic work in primary school mathematics, so that the process of becoming numerate becomes more easily related to authentic activities that they are likely to experience in everyday life.

New information and communications technologies for education in Latin America: risks and opportunities

Includes bibliography

Policies and practices for the use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) in education in Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

Resolution 672(XXXIV): establishment of the Conference on Science, Innovation and Information and Communications Technologies of the Economic Commision for Latin America and the Caribbean

Incluye Bibliografía

Resolution 672(XXXIV) Establishment of the Conference on Science, Innovation and Information and Communications Technologies of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

Spanish version available

Report on the working group on information and communications technologies of the statistical conference of the Americas of ECLAC

Incluye Bibliografía

A low-profile dual-band antenna for a wireless LAN access point

The design of dual-band 2.45/5.2 GHz antenna for an acces point of a Wireless Local Area Network (LAN) is presented. The proposed antenna is formed by a Radial Line Slot Array (RLSA) operating at 2.4 GHz and a Microstrip patch working at 5.2 GHz, both featuring circular polarization. The design of this antenna system is accomplished using commercially available Finite Element software. High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) of Ansoft and an in-house developed iteration procedure. The performance of the designed antenna is assessed in terms of return loss (RL), radiation pattern and polarization purity in the two frequency bands.