The rural teacher as a local change agent Driving change in the rural communities

The rural teacher as a local change agent The work of a rural teacher can have substantial impact reaching well beyond the school. Developing links with the local community, he/she can: Instill a new culture in the rural community, tackling scepticism towards innovation. Mobilise existing institutions and dormant agents of development in the community, bringing life to stagnant socioeconomic processes. Help all local citizens become knowledgeable and willing enough to develop projects and initiatives matching their own needs.

A local change agent: Why the teacher? Central position of the teacher in an isolated rural community Significance and prestige of the school as one of the few public establishments Responsibility of the school to respond to the real needs of the local community.

What does an agent of change do? Accepts, communicates and defends the need for change. Challenges the status quo by comparing it to an ideal or a vision of change Defines and initiates change; translates the vision into a specific change initiative Leads and manages change Understands the cultural dynamics of change.

An example: combating the digital divide A rural school teacher with a vision to boost local development through the utilisation of ICT can: Help bridge the widening digital divide between urban and rural areas Offer real and practical support to the rural community in its struggle for equal opportunities for economic and social development, lifelong learning, and a more democratic access to the Information Society. How? By: Instilling, and facilitating the uptake and development of, a new digital culture among local citizens, reducing resistance to the use of new technologies. Promoting digital literacy and awareness of the new potential offered by ICTs to all citizens.

Combating the digital divide: how exactly? Turning the rural school and its technological infrastructure into a Learning Hub supporting the whole community: serving as the gateway of the local population to information and knowledge offering opportunities for creativity to all citizens, supporting the community to produce their own digital content helping local people discover new opportunities for covering diverse needs and aspirations, e.g.: by selling their products and services over the web, by promoting their area as a tourist destination or as a site of cultural interest, or by exploiting rich lifelong learning resources available through the internet as students, employees or entrepreneurs, in response to their ownlocal and individual needs.

Rural teachers as change agents: the steps Understanding the local context Diagnosing the local needs and potential Convincing and motivating local people Managing change Maintaining the change culture