Thursday, March 26, 2009

Post 4 - A Visit to Perpustakaan Tun Sri Lanang


Hye everbody...This is my fourth posting for Language and ICT course..For this assignment,we were asked to go to the library and find out what is DOA or Dissertation Online and find out the online database that subscribed by Perpustakaan Tun Sri Lanang.I've found some trial online databases subscribed by the library. One of them is IOPscience. IOPscience is a new platform launched by Institute of Physic (IOP) to host all IOP journal contents. IOPscience will allow user to access all journals from 1874 to present day and with more than 50 titles and enrich features.

Perpustakaan Tun Sri Lanang

Besides that,we also were asked to search for EBSCOHost and Lisa Net.These are the online databases that subscribed by the library.


  • EBSCOHost
EBSCHost is one of the online databases that subscribed by Perpustakaan Tun Sri Lanang in order to help students in finding information about any articles that they want.This online database is very useful because rather than spending hours searching by using the search engines like Google or Yahoo,it is more effective to use online database to search for the information.However,what I realized when I tried to use this online database in the library,it is a little bit difficult if we do not search through it specifically.Besides,we also need to be precise to avoid us from getting the wrong information when searching through it.

  • Lisa Net
Lisa Net is also an online database that subscribed by UKM's library.For me,it is also quite difficult to use this online database if we do not know well on how to use it.May be I'm not really familiar with online database,so I feel so difficult to use it.However,through Lisa Net,we can find information through three methods which are Quick Search,Advanced Search and Search Tools.Besides that,this site also provides search tip,technology search areas and data range of the information so that the user can find information easily.

We were also asked to find two articles from any online database and summarize the articles.
  • The first article is "Women and ICT Policy".
Many developing countries are beginning to understand the beneficial role ICTs can have in reducing high poverty rates in both rural and urban areas. Using ICTs to create small and medium enterprises has resulted in numerous Internet cafés, phone shops and community radio stations. However, these small and medium enterprises are largely owned and operated by men.

Women are worst hit by high poverty levels. Access to ICTs provides women with economic empowerment, increased learning opportunities and improved market access for their products. Unfortunately, the majority of women in the developing world have limited access to ICTs, which hinders them from reaping the full benefits.

Focusing efforts into increasing women’s participation in policy, regulatory and advocacy issues is an effective and powerful way to achieve competitive and fair levels in the ICT sector. This has the potential to increase the role of women in community decision making, where they can influence policy issues at any government level. With increased participation, women can then ensure that gender issues are taken into account in ICT resource planning and administration.

Some nations, such as India, have been able to successfully empower the poor (who are mainly women and children) through increased ICT use. As a result of implementing ICTs at all levels of the Indian government, citizens now enjoy increased incomes, enhanced health care, improved education and training, and better access to job opportunities. ICTs have also improved access to government services, enhanced communication both within and without the countries, maximized private sector opportunities, increased agricultural productivity, and improved access to better markets.

In order to fully integrate women in the ICT sector (as both an actor and a decision maker), countries must enact deliberate and measurable strategies. This is particularly important in rural areas, where the majority of women reside. Compared to women in urban areas, women in rural areas take on more leadership roles in family and local governance issues. Using effective ICT rural integration strategies, which target these women leaders, will automatically address poverty alleviation and good governance.

Promoting universal access to telecommunication services – especially for under served populations and regions – is a major goal for government regulatory bodies. Gender must be taken into account when working towards this goal; otherwise, ‘gender-blind’ policies can further exacerbate gender inequality.

Author : Sarah Tisch, Ph.D.Chief-of-Party, dot-GOV

My Summary:


The beneficial role of ICTs can have in reducing high poverty rates in rural and urban areas. ICT can create medium enterprises. However,these small and medium enterprise are usually owned and operated by men. Unfortunately,it is limited for majority of women in the world to access to ICT. Effoerts into increasing women's participation in policy,regulatory and advocacy issues is an effective way to achieve fair levels in the ICT sector and also increased the participation of women. Besides that,it also can ensure that gender issues are taken into account in ICT. In order to integrate women in the ICT sector,countries must make careful and measurable strategies. This is important especially in rural areas where the women's role are reside compared to women in urban areas.What can I understand from this article is the women participation are less in ICT especially in rural areas. So,some actions sholud be taken in order to increase the role of women in ICT.
  • The second article is "Bridging Digital Divide Among Secondary Students".

Advances in information and communication technology have brought many opportunities and also challenges known as digital divide, that is, those who have and those who have not access to the ICTs. There are major barriers in bridging the digital divide. One of the most important is the infrastructure. Infrastructure is required for the real access of ICT. Many other issues are involved in bridging the digital divide. But it is important to recognize that there have been developments, which point towards a positive direction. Moreover, it is our firm belief that any digital divide program which does not take into account the emerging handheld technologies’ capacity to support the development of new distributed childhood risk having no or only partial impact on the youth that they serve. There are new ecologies of childhood learning that people are barely aware of happening at the local level: homes, schools, and community centers. ICT is not properly integrated into the rural areas. High cost of ICT is one of the major factor for this little awareness. Government must provide ICT in the rural scheme on a larger scale. Furthermore, the cost of various ICT components should be reduced to enable the poor students to buy. Computer software should also be in their own mother tongue language so they use it more effectively. No doubt, Government is providing infrastructure for the access of computers and internet in schools but there are lack of other resources like electricity. There should be no unauthorized cuts in the working hours of schools. Power cuts in schools must be pre-announced. In case of power failure, alternative arrangements for 24 hrs power supply facility should be ensured in schools like generator. Students-computer ratio should be minimized. Computer lab should be well maintained, fully equipped with the latest know how and up dated regularly. Only than the students can be fully equipped with computer education by spending more time on computer. No doubt, the hurdles are complex but a systematic approach to bridging the digital gap is possible. There is a need for community leaders, government agencies, policy makers, industry people, community-based program staff, and researchers to look beyond simple access to hardware and software. It is more valuable to address issues of teaching and learning with technology in informal settings located in disadvantaged communities.

Author : Dr Gursharan Singh Kainth and Ms Kamalpreet Kaur


My Summary:

The most important barrier in bridging the digital divide is the infrastructure. For the real access of ICT, we need infrastructure. The government is providing infrastructure for the access of computer and internet in school in the rural areas,but sometimes no electricity
there. Besides that,to encouraged students to use the ICT,computer lab should be well maintained.Lastly,in order to bridging the digital gap among students,all people should play an important role and make a systematic approach to it.


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