Call for Chapters: Intergenerational Perspectives on Education and the Internet Culture in Developing Countries

Editors

Olugbenga David Ojo (National Open University of Nigeria)
Felix Kayode Olakulehin (National Open University of Nigeria)

Call for Chapters

Proposals Submission Deadline: February 1, 2013
Full Chapters Due: March 1, 2013
Introduction
The impact of the cultural shift that derives from the ascendancy of communication, information technologies, and online social media has become a remarkable phenomenon globally. Apart from shaping attitudes and behaviour, these technologies influence the processes of knowledge production and transmission as well as human perceptions and social relationships.  The emergence of this phenomenon has also increased the popularity of varieties of social networking media, whose differing levels of adaptability and sophistication have increased the ability of diverse groups of people to access information and exchange views and opinions on different issues. This diffusion of social media in all aspects of life, including education, religion, politics, and health, has increased the potential for deeper and multi-layered interaction among people.

This development reiterates the concept of ‘generation’ mooted by Karl Manheim as an explanation of the way by which people of the same generation are ‘bound-together’ in some way, which may not automatically be members of a similar social group. Manheim believes that generational location is similar to social classes. Therefore, despite people’s position within a particular generation by the instance of birth, they may or may not experience a shared sense of generational identity. Actual identifiable generations do emerge when there is some conscious bond between them. The identification of a generation in this sense involves a collective sense of identity in relation to other generations. The implications of an inter-generational perspective in examining the attitudes and reactions of people in developing countries to contemporary flux in information and communications technologies cannot be overemphasised.

It is crucial to examine how generations of people who have previously contended with unstable analog processes in educational activities are adjusting to contemporary digital approaches to the same activities. For instance, procedures for assessment in public examinations are now being undertaken through online strategies. This implies that candidates are required to acquire the competencies for using internet and communications technologies. However, this approach fails to explain how the current capacities of people of the same generation empower or limit them from effectively engaging with these information artifacts. These and similar scenarios are going to be explored by analysts across disciplines through this publication. In addition, the book will examine how different generational cohorts are responding to the explosion in varieties of social media and how these social media are influencing different aspects of social life including, especially, the educational concerns.

Analysts from western societies have extolled the potential benefits of social media for extending the classroom discussion into the social space of learners. The question is: are there similar examples from developing societies? We argue that it is difficult and even unwelcome to have the same experience with social media as other societies. However, we are aware of the influences of social media on academic activities and social development of these platforms on African development. The role of social media in the ‘Arab spring’ uprisings that swept across North Africa less than 24 months ago is still fresh in our memories. Similarly, we remain conscious of the impact of social media in the continuing debate on gay rights across sub-Saharan Africa.

Currently, most of the existing known analyses of this phenomenon are based on the perspectives of people from developed countries, while the perspectives of people from developing countries have been left largely unreported. There is evidence that more and more people in Africa and south-east Asia are having greater access to mobile telecommunications than before, even though the internet technology in these regions still remains precarious. This development is exacting a significant impact on the lifestyles of different age groups and social groups in Africa in ways that were not previously understood. While some western analysts have tried to comment on this, it is likely that their analyses have not been able to effectively capture the rich social experiences of the growing culture of internet telecommunications on the life of people in developing societies based on their attitudes, experiences and, most importantly, in their own words.

The book is to bring together experiences and analytical studies of these issues based on empirical and conceptual research by analysts in developing countries. Among the questions that would be addressed by contributing chapters are:

1.   What is the nature of online social practices among children, youth, and older adults?
2.   How do the older adults regard youth engagement with internet telecommunications?
3.   What role do social networking media play in the culture and education in contemporary African societies?
4.   What is the level of awareness and willingness of members of the older generation regarding the use of the social network media?
5.   In what ways do social network media affect and enhance social relations, education, and community development?
6.   What is the impact of the internet and online social media on social activities of different age groups in developing societies?
7.   How do the internet and social networking media contribute to the growing rate of divorce of the married adult?
8.   What is the impact of social networking media on the social interaction and sexual practices of unmarried adults?

Objectives of the Book
This book will explore the inter-generational attitudes and perceptions of the people of developing countries regarding education and the internet culture. It will address the nature of online social practices regarding the old and young, the role played by social networking media in the culture, and the education of the contemporary African people—the way it affects and enhances their social relations, including sexual practices, marriage and divorce rates among adults, and also education and community development

Target Audience
The potential audience of this book includes academics, researchers, students, social planners, public affairs analysts, information technology managers, and experts. In addition, the publication will be an invaluable asset in extending the knowledge of contemporary analysts of information and communication technologies in contemporary Africa about transformations in psycho-social interaction and information and communications technologies. Readers of this publication can utilize the book for a variety of purposes, including:

1.   acquiring knowledge and understanding about the attitudes and perceptions in relation to education and culture of internet of people of different cultures of the world who are from developing countries.
2.   thesis writing for higher degrees; Master’s and Doctoral programmes by postgraduate students in the available higher institutions of the world.
3.   those who are researching various types of attitudes and perceptions of people who are from the developing world in the different areas and aspects of the title.
4.   reference materials for students who are in the open and distance mode of education since they only rely on the modules given to them by their instructors.
5.   reference materials for authors and analysts.

Recommended topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
1.   The nature, structure, and dynamics of online social practices among children, youth, and older adults.
2.   Attitudes and perceptions of older adults regard youth engagement with internet telecommunications.
3.   Impact and roles of social networking media in the culture and education in contemporary African societies.
4.   Awareness and willingness of members of the older generation to use social network media.
5.   Impact of social network media on social relations, education, and community development.
6.   Impact of the internet and online social media on social activities of different age groups in developing societies.
7.   The internet and social networking media and its influence on the growing rate of divorce of the married adult.
8.   Impact of social networking media on the social interaction and sexual practices of unmarried adults.

Submission Procedure
Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before 1 February, 2013, a 2-3 page chapter proposal clearly explaining the mission and concerns of their proposed chapter. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by 2 February, 2013, about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines. Full chapters are expected to be submitted by 1 March, 2013. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers for this project.

Publisher
This book is scheduled to be published by IGI Global (formerly Idea Group Inc.), publisher of the “Information Science Reference” (formerly Idea Group Reference), “Medical Information Science Reference,” “Business Science Reference,” and “Engineering Science Reference” imprints. For additional information regarding the publisher, please visit www.igi-global.com. It is anticipated that the book would be released in early 2014.

Important Dates
February 1, 2013:     Proposal Submission Deadline
February 2, 2013:         Notification of Proposal Acceptance
March 1, 2013:            Full Chapter Submission
May 30, 2013:              Review Results to Authors
June 30, 2013:            Revised Chapter Submission
July 15, 2013:              Final Acceptance Notifications
July 30, 2013:              Submission of Final Chapters

Inquiries


1. Dr. Olugbenga David Ojo                     
School of Education                                                                         
olugbenga.ojo@gmail.com 
National Open University of Nigeria   
234-8034024688                               

2. Felix Kayode Olakulehin
Regional Training and Research Institute
felixkayman@gmail.com
National Open University of Nigeria
234-8128140658

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