Can the participatory evaluation of new communication technology initiatives assist in building sustainable and inclusive rural communities?

This presentation first addresses the role of new communication and information technologies (C and ITs) in building sustainable and inclusive rural communities; factors in community adoption and use of C and IT initiatives; the role of participatory planning and evaluation in making C and IT initiatives more sustainable and successful; and the strengths and limitations of participatory evaluation methodology. The presentation then outlines the Learning, Evaluation, Action and Reflection for New technologies, Empowerment and Rural Sustainability (LEARNERS) process, which is being trialled as part of an action research project that the authors are conducting in collaboration with people in two Queensland rural communities and five industry partners.