Unilingual Programming, Targeted Teaching

I know this is a sore point, but carrying on a dual (or multiple) language ICT support and training system throughout Canada is very expensive and not very successful from an international measurement of productivity.

When we accept that Canada is bilingual then we really have raised the bar for bilingual system support. Just consider the amount of time it takes to keep a website up to date and responses done in a reasonable timeframe in one language. Then multiply it by 2, if you can find the resources. If a website program is developed using the French version of Dreamweaver, how much of that development effort is re–usable in an English version? How many of our programmers are fully bilingual? How much international work in the ICT sector is carried out in French? I am not sure what other European countries with multiple languages do. Do they just support the multiple languages while maintaining and developing with English source and application programming?

As for enticing the general public to use ICT or further develop what they already know, I really like the carrot approach rather than the stick. We have some excellent mature student teachers and infrastructure. Separate the populace into groups based on ICT experience, demographics, education level and income. Develop outreach to the targeted groups. If you are trying to tackle the "digital divide", then specifically tailor activities to get to them, don't try the one size fits all. If you are targeting 3–6 year olds then take your lessons from Sesame Street or the Blue alternative using stories to teach.

I have recently been reading Malcolm Gladwell's books the "Tipping Point" and am half way through "blink". In terms of creating the move to fully adopting ICT there are many lessons to be learned in these books. I strongly recommend them as a read to get you thinking outside the box, a place we conservative Canadians have trouble going…