Exploring new literacies: A case study on technology and teacher development in Cuban primary schools

Cuba has successfully eradicated traditional illiteracy -- boasting rates upwards of 99% of its population. However, as other societies have digitized and moved towards a globalized marketplace, U.S. sanctions have severely limited the import of new technologies into the country and classroom. In response, this case study sought to investigate the learning environments of Cuban primary schools to determine the breadth of a divide and the suitability for applying recommended frameworks to teaching. Observations of primary school classrooms and facilities provided insight, bolstered by semi-structured group interviews and surveys with teachers, teaching students, and education professors. Findings revealed a high-level of awareness and optimism around the use of technology, crowdsourcing, and knowledge sharing, as well as a strong informatics-based curriculum. However, low resources and techno-determinism infringe upon equitable skill-building, continuous scaffolding, and sustainable integration