eDIRICA: Digitizing Cultural Heritage for Learning, Creativity, and Inclusiveness

Abstract

The integration of information and communication tools to the management of cultural heritage (CH) promotes culture-based creativity, historical learning and awareness, cultural diversity and social cohesion. However, various developing countries are facing challenges due to inadequate infrastructure to support the integration. In Nigeria, for instance, heritage sites are mainly protected for tourism purposes with little focus on the educational purposes and the broader impacts of CH within the community. This paper, therefore, describes the planning stage for the development of eDIRICA, a Web-app tool that incorporates learning, peoples’ engagement and creativity to create a new paradigm for the management of cultural heritage in Nigeria. The rationale is to document heritage sites and convert the information into knowledge through the creation of interactive learning modules, collaborative activities and events. Primary information were collected through questionnaire survey of randomly selected school students and teachers. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted for heritage managers of three CHs. The study finds that heritage education is not included in school curriculum, inadequate trained teachers and collaboration between heritage managers and school administrators. Also, young people are interested in engaging and learning about cultural heritage through digital platforms in view to contribute to the development of their communities.