Information and Communication Technologies in Education

Introduction:

'Information and Communication Technology' (ICT) deals with the application of different electronic media in the collection, storage and rapid access of information to users. The use of new technologies like computer, internet, e-mail, CD-ROMs, DVDs, Interactive Video, Teleconferencing etc. enabling large number of students to get access to quality education and adopt  self-learning to improve their potentials is known as teaching through ICT.

The recent advances of 'Information and Communication Technology' and their applications in education viz. 'Web-based learning', 'e-learning', 'e-turtoring', 'CAI', 'CMI', 'Tele-conferencing', 'Interactive Video', 'Multimedia Learning', 'Satellite Instructional Television Programme', 'EDUSAT', Reach the Unreach', 'UNESCO's Learning without Frontiers (LWF)', 'Virtual Classroom', 'e-book', 'Digital Library' and 'Electronic Community' .

Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Education

          In any teaching environment, the teacher usually designs his method of presenting information to learners, interacts with them to clarify their doubts and evaluates learner's progress now and then. In olden days, teachers mostly presented information orally and at times used palm leaves to provide written information. Then they changed to chalk board to present and explain the requisite information. With the advent of the printing machine, printed texts were extensively used to share information. With the advancement of science and technology, teachers started supplementing their teaching with audiovisual materials. In modern classrooms, electronic-media has changed the complexion of today's classrooms. We hear nowadays 'Virtual Classrooms', 'Web-based Learning', 'Computer mediated learning', etc. which enables the student to learn anything of his choice, at any time from anywhere and that too at his own pace and convenience.

Technological Options in Teaching:

A wide range of technologies are available today to teachers through which they could impart instruction to students. These could be broadly classified into the following four major categories:

1.    Voice: - A voice is an instructional audio-tool and is of two types; (i) One-way audio-tools such as radio and audio-tape and (ii) Two-way (interactive) audio-tools such as telephone, audio-conferencing and short-wave radio.

2.    Video: - Video is instructional Video tools include (i) still image such as slides; (ii) pre-recorded moving images (e.g. video tapes, film) and (iii) real-time moving images combined with audio-conferencing (one or two way video with two-way audio).

3.    Print: - This is the basic element of teaching and learning and all other instructional delivery system have evolved from it. Textbooks, workbooks, study guides, course syllabus, case studies etc. are different formats of print materials used in education.

4.    Data: - Data is information and computer can receives and provides information electronically. Computer makes use of 'data' in the following four ways for providing instruction.

i.                   Computer as a Teaching Machine: It presents the structured instructional material sequentially in steps.

ii.                Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI): It uses the computer as a self contained teaching machine to present contents of the individual lessons. Depending upon the response of the learner for each frame, the computer decides how to move further. The computer delivers instruction, manages student's response and decides the course of learning of the individual learner.

iii.             Computer – Managed Instruction (CMI): It uses the computer to organise instruction (select a particular programme suitable to the individual learner and presents it); monitors student's learning and keeps a record of student's progress.

iv.              Computer – Mediated Education (CME): It describes computer applications that facilitate the delivery of instruction in an interactive mode. E.g. e-mail, Fax, real-time computer conferencing, interactive video, web-based learning etc.

Selection of Technology for Instruction:

Though many technological options are available for teaching, the teacher must focus on instructional outcomes rather than the kind of technology to be used for teaching. That technology which is less expensive, low time-consuming and highly effective in delivering the contents to students (which is inferred by the learning outcomes of students) is considered as the best one. No single technology is suitable for all types of situations; each technology serves a specific purpose. Teachers should base their selection of proper media and technology, bearing in mind the instructional objectives, available instructional resources, characteristics of pupils and the cost involved.

1.    Printed Materials: They are used to present the basic instructional content in the form of text, laboratory practical instructions, synopsis of lectures, the syllabus, schedule of work, etc.

2.    Pre-recorded Video-tapes: They can be used to present classroom demonstrations, visually-oriented contents of the lesson etc. Students operate these and learn themselves, even in the absence of the teachers.

3.    Interactive Audio or Video Conferencing: Teleconferencing facilitates people situated at distant places to have face-to-face interaction, eliminating expensive and time-consuming long distance journeys. When this method is employed in education, pupils of different institutions and those in different campuses could establish direct contact with expert professors and educationists and get guidance and clarifications in their curricular programmes. In this method, participants situated at far off places to could participate in a seminar and exchange their views.

4.    Computer Conferencing or e-mail: This can be used when the teacher wants to send messages, assignments, feedback and other specific communications to one or more class members. It can also be used to increase interaction among students.

5.    Fax: As this is useful in transmitting printed documents of many pages from one place to another instantly. It is generally employed to distribute assignments, to reach out last minute announcements to students, to receive students' assignments and to provide timely feedback.

Depending upon the technological options available to him, the teacher should carefully select and use only those media which suit the needs of the learner. Moreover the selected technology must be instructionally effective and cost-wise economical.