New technologies in Portugal: regular middle and high school

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to elaborate upon the relation between information and communication technologies (ICT), particularly web‐based resources, and their use, programs and learning in Portuguese middle and high regular public schools.

Design/methodology/approach

Adding collected documentation on curriculum, laws and other related articles; the paper also includes statistical information based on collected data from questionnaires carried out in some main Lisbon parishes. The students and teachers universe in Portugal are about 110,420 people for regular public middle and high schools. In total, 1,120 questionnaires were collected and treated as samples.

Findings

According to the questionnaires, technologies are quite accepted in schools. Use and quantity of resources restrain learning evolution with recent technologies. Combining theoretical knowledge and on‐field perceptions, analysis and evaluation leads to the conclusion that there are some evident discrepancies when ICT is analyzed across the curriculum, with quantities and use of ICT resources. Web‐based technologies seem to be insufficient inside schools and their use is low.

Practical implications

Including and adapting ICT with programs and curriculum are goals to reach in the years to come. Better understanding of ICT equipment and use in Portuguese public schools for middle and high levels.

Originality/value

There are only few or rare questionnaires related to ICT in Portugal and this kind of research should be more frequent and comparing with other countries and situations. Recently, some studies were carried out on e‐learning subjects. This paper can help educational entities better understand perceptions, gaps and directions to go in the future.

Citation

Florentino, T., Sánchez, L. and Joyanes, L. (2010), "New technologies in Portugal: regular middle and high school", Interactive Technology and Smart Education, Vol. 7 No. 4, pp. 220-229. https://doi.org/10.1108/17415651011096030