Role of ICT in Education

 ROLE OF ICT IN EDUCATION

ICTs stands for Information and Communication Technologies and are defined, for the purposes of this primer, as a “diverse set of technological tools and resources used to communicate, and to create, disseminate, store, and manage information.” These technologies include computers, the Internet, broadcasting technologies (radio and television), and telephony.

In recent years there has been a groundswell of interest in how computers and the Internet can best be harnessed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of education at all levels and in both formal and non-formal settings. But ICTs are more than just these technologies; older technologies such as the telephone, radio and television, although now given less attention, have a longer and richer history as instructional tools. Moreover, different technologies are typically used in combination rather than as the sole delivery mechanism. For instance, the Indira Gandhi National Open University in India combines the use of print, recorded audio and video, broadcast radio and television, and audio conferencing technologies

These are the characteristics that make ICT in education a prominent school communication tool.

·    It offers the wide variety of services.

·    It is reliable and provides interactive learning experiences.

·    It is flexible and provides comfortable learning.

·    It motivates students to learn.

·    It facilitates communication and promotes creativity.

·   It also provides access to the digital library where information can be retrieved and stored beyond textbooks.

1.     Prezi presentation 

Prezi is an online, Flash-based presentation creator who shares similar functionalities with other information presentation programmes such as Microsoft PowerPoint and Apple Keynotes. It is a visual learning tool which allows you to create maps of texts, images, videos, graphics, etc and present them in a nonlinear way.

Prezi gives you a chance to explore a canvas of ideas by focussing on minute detail as well as allowing you to see the big picture. Instead of a slide show which offers information in accumulation, Prezi favours visual learning and works very much like a graphic organiser or a mind map. Therefore, it highlights the way concepts are interconnected.

Advantages: Prezi creates stunning visual impact. Import pictures, maps and PDFs and use them as a canvas. Prezi is interactive whiteboard friendly. It allows you to create exciting and interactive presentations with touch navigation. Prezi offers more freedom of navigation. Prezi is a great tool for interactive classroom sessions or group projects. Students can cooperate in real time with up to ten others, in the classroom or at home, to brainstorm and build a presentation on one shared virtual whiteboard.

2.     E-textbook

A digital textbook is a digital book or e-book intended to serve as the text for a class. Digital textbooks may also be known as e-textbooks or e-texts. Digital textbooks are a major component of technology-based education reform.

Advantages: E-books are portable, take up less space and are searchable.  E-books can be printable and fonts can be resized. E-books are very easy to sell and distribute. They promote reading and are good for the environment. They are cheaper and faster to produce.

Disadvantages: E-Book Readers can cost money. Programs need to be compatible with the computer or device. Not all book formats are compatible with the reader. E-Book Readers require power. E-Books can cause eyestrain. E-books do not have a defined life. E-Books can be hacked.

3.     Digital library

Digital libraries are a set of electronic resources and associated technical capabilities for creating, searching and using information. In this sense they are an extension and enhancement of information storage and retrieval systems that manipulate digital data in any medium (text, images, sounds; static or dynamic images) and exist in distributed networks. A Digital Library is a special library with a focused collection of digital objects that can include text visual material, audio material, video material, stored as electronic media formats (as opposed to print, microform, or other media), along with means for organizing, storing, and retrieving the files and media contained in the library collection. Electronic libraries are the storehouse of knowledge as they maintain the book and other knowledge resource available - mostly in printed form. However, with the advent of digital technology and Internet connectivity, the library scenario is changing fast. Digital technology, Internet connectivity and physical content can be dovetailed resulting in Digital Library. Data available in physical form has been preserved digitally in Digital Library. Digital Libraries have the ability to enhance access to information and knowledge. They also Bridge barriers of time and space.  

4.      SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active–Learning for Young Aspiring Minds)

SWAYAM is a programme initiated by Government of India and designed to achieve the three cardinal principles of Education Policy viz., access, equity and quality. The objective of this effort is to take the best teaching learning resources to all, including the most disadvantaged. SWAYAM seeks to bridge the digital divide for students who have remained untouched by the digital revolution and have not been able to join the mainstream of the knowledge economy. This is done through an indigenous developed IT platform that facilitates hosting of all the courses taught in classrooms to be accessed by anyone, anywhere at any time.

All the courses are interactive, prepared by the best teachers in the country and are available, free of cost to the residents in India. 26 SWAYAM platforms are  developed by Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and NPTEL, IIT Madras with the help of Google Inc. and Persistent Systems Ltd. It would be ultimately capable of hosting 2000 courses and 80000 hours of learning: covering school, undergraduate, post-graduate, engineering, law and other professional courses. SWAYAM offers Courses that are taught in classrooms from 9th class till post-graduation. Categories of courses include - Engineering, Science, Humanities, Management, Language, Mathematics, Arts and Recreation, Commerce, General, Library, Education. Courses delivered through SWAYAM are available free of cost to the learners. Students wanting certifications need to register and shall be offered a certificate on successful completion of the course, with a little fee. At the end of each course, there will be an assessment of the student through proctored examination and the marks/grades secured in this exam could be transferred to the academic record of the students.

5.     Educational Softwares

Educational software is computer software, the primary purpose of which is teaching or self learning. Educational software is essential in any learning environment to allow teachers and students maximize the power of the computer. There are hundreds of educational software titles available on the market but not all are suitable for use in school. This software can also enable students to gather information that otherwise would have been impossible, time-consuming or costly. All of this can be very motivational for students and these are just some of the numerous advantages of educational software.

Advantages: Interactive software for preschool children who aren’t ready to use a mouse or keyboard quite yet. Educational software for teaching academic skills such as math. Programs that will teach children basic keyboarding skills. Software that teaches children how to think logically and to solve problems. Artistic software that your child can use to create and color 3D pictures. These can usually be printed out. Children control their own learning experience, the pace at which they learn and how challenged they are. Computers help children to use all of their senses to extract information. Children learn through creating and utilizing hands-on knowledge. Computers help children develop a positive attitude towards technology. Computers are beneficial in developing children’s fundamental skills (i.e. letters, numbers, colors, shapes, rhythm, cause and effect, problem solving, procedural thinking, creativity). Computers are really beneficial to children who have speech, audio or motor limitations because they act as a patient tutor allowing the child to learn at his own pace. Computers can teach self-confidence and self-esteem. Computers can teach social skills.

Disadvantages: Software needs to be carefully chosen in order to ensure that what is holding your child’s attention is also educating them at the same time. Some software doesn’t make it obvious that it has no educational value. It is rare to find a school that has enough computers for every student, thus scheduling can become problematic. It is difficult to get a student’s attention whenever they are on the computer. Muscular-skeletal injuries and vision problems can arise whenever students spend too much time using the computer.

List of some educational softwares are Geogebra, Amiglobe, Stellarium, Math Blaster, Wikipedia, Celestia and NASA world wind.

CONCLUSION

We are living in a constantly evolving digital world. ICT has an impact on nearly every aspect of our lives - from working to socialising, learning to playing. The digital age has transformed the way young people communicate, network, seek help, access information and learn. As technology becomes more and more embedded in our culture, we must provide our learners with relevant and contemporary experiences that allow them to successfully engage with technology and prepare them for life after school. It is widely recognised that learners are motivated and purposefully engaged in the learning process when concepts and skills are underpinned with technology and sound pedagogy. We must recognise that young people are now an online population and access is through a variety of means such as computers, TV and mobile phones.