Teachers commonly use Information Technology for administrative tasks. Teachers most often use Information Technology for routine tasks (record keeping, lesson plan development, information presentation, basic information searches on the Internet.)
Types of usage of Information Technology correlate with teacher pedagogical philosophies. Teachers who use ICTs the most- and most effectively – are less likely to use traditional transmission method pedagogies. Teachers who use more types of software tend to practice more constructivist pedagogies.
Modern developments in information and communication technologies (ICT) provides exciting possibilities to enhance the quality of education. Interactive education software , open access digital libraries, and cheaper and more intuitive technology may facilities new forms of interaction between students, teachers, education employees and the community and enhance the quality of education by making it more accessible.
Information Technology had the capacity to enhance the learning process and facilities communications within education institutions and between educators and learners but it must be used in education institutions under the supervision of qualified well-trained professionals with the expertise in pedagogy and in education to ensure that its impact does not damage or undermine the learning process or the development of learners.
Internet Access
Internet Access is the process that enables individuals and organizations to connect to the Internet using computer terminals, computers, mobile devices, sometimes via computer networks. Once connected to the Internet, users can access Internet services, such as email and the World Wide Web. Internet service providers (ISPs) offer Internet through various technologies that offer a wide range of data signalling rates (speeds).
The Internet provides instant availability of vast stores of information in real time. Prior to the availability of the Internet, one seeking education often had to be physically near the information he wished to learn. This involved walking to a school, listening to a teacher and having access to a library. With the Internet , learners have instant access to information on virtually any subject.
The Internet has become a very useful tool to gain access to an ocean of information. It is an opportunity and privilege to be living in an era where the Internet is easily accessible . Teenagers are able to use this valuable resource for completing projects, researching information, to view pictures and videos of places and people at the click of a button.
The Internet has proved to be of immense assistance in the academic area.
Educators and parents should encourage students to use the Internet and guide them to the right resources that are available online. Parents and educators should be aware that the Internet is an open source environment where information of every kind is easily accessible.
Using the Internet in teaching and learning willl enable the teacher to:
- Access information instantly and present it to the students in an engaging manner using a variety of teaching methodologies.
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- Provide educational opportunities for students based on their abilities and interests and different learning styles.
- Model the safe and responsible use of the Internet in daily classroom life.
- Access classroom-ready resources suitable for the curriculum and assessment.
- Communicate with peers and subject experts and overcome the isolation of a classroom.
- Create and share learning resources and extend learning outside the classroom.
- Avail of online continuing professional development courses.
Using Website
One of the most common reasons for us to be hanging around on the Internet every day is the abundance of information it is loaded with . The information is generated by multiple sources and is carefully organized in the form of files and web pages, which, when grouped together to form a single entity, become a website.
There are several education related websites available on the Internet from which students can benefit greatly. These websites help students in developing their mathematical skills, vocabulary skills, digital resources provided by world renowned educators and experts. Parents and educators should make the best use of the resources available on the Internet to support the educational development of their children. The following are some of the education related websites- Wikipedia, MIT Open Courseware, TED-Ed, Science Net Links, Coursera, Vocabulary.com etc.
Using Search Engines
A searchengine is a set of programs which are used to search for information within a specific realm and collate that information in a database. Search engines help people to organize and display information in a way which makes it readily accessible. Search engines allow people to access online information on the Web.
As such, search engines provide great benefits to individuals, organizations, and society. The world Wide Web is different from anything we have known. Considering the amount of information that’s available from a good search engine, it’s similar to having the Yellow pages, a guide book and a road map all in one . Search engines can provide much more information than just the URL of a Web site.
A search engine is a searchable database which collects information on web pages from the Internet, and indexes the information and then stores the result in a huge database where it can be quickly searched. The search engine then provides an interface to search the database.
The lives of teacher, professors and students are hard enough as it is with demanding hours, straining subject matter and endless research. There are many great search engines that can ease the strain of these pressure.
Examples: Google, Alta Vista, Yahoo.
Communicating with Experts
For teachers, the Internet is an electronic gateway to learning resouces and experiences Otherwise unavailable; no matter how specialized an area of interest may be , there is someone on the Internet who shares the interest and has identified or developed useful resources. It is through interaction with other people, ideas , and new experiences that we all construct new knowledge, and the power of the Internet in its capacity to enable interactions with people over great distances and link people with distant informational resources . In essence, the Internet provides a way to break out of the school walls and engage students with people and resources scattered around the world. There are times when each of us needs help finding specific information, learning new concepts, completing assignments, or making plans. On the web, personal assistance is only a click away.
Accessing CD-ROM and DVDs
The CD-ROM format is a popular medium for software, music, and data file. CD-ROM and DVDs has the ability to store sound files , graphics, video sequences. The two major differences between CD-ROM and DVD are that DVD has a much higher capacity for storing data (between 4Gb and 7Gb ) and the data can be accessed at very high speeds. This makes it a versatile medium capable of interactive use.
Students using this type of learning tool are able to work at their own pace and capability. Having access to the Internet has created new tools for software developers and by combining CDs and DVDs along with an Intranet the resources can be used over the whole of a networked environment; this in turn helps teachers who are not computer literate and who are not able to solve computer operating problems.
DVD-ROM resources are motivating for students . DVD technology opens a visual window to content far richer than print. DVD-ROM s transform educational content into an engaging world of stories, facts, ideas , pictures, and sounds that students can actively explore. The active engagement the DVD-ROMs offer students is educationally crucial, particularly in the “computer game” era. Additionally , DVD resources make teachers better able to deliver information using the kids of media that mirror how students really think and learn. The versatile variety of media available on a DVD-ROM is particularly valuable, since teachers can’t always know up front which approach will work for each student. DVD-ROMs also free the teacher from the primary responsibility of delivering information , providing increased opportunities to facilitate, encourage, discuss and mentor.
Technology has filtered into education fairly slowly and in order for the CD-ROM DVD to continue as a viable means in instructional use, educators must maximise it to its full potential and become confident in using the applications.
Accessing Digital Content
Digital content is any type of content that exists in the form of digital data. Digital content comes in many forms, from text (e-books) and audio and videos files (training videos, tutorials etc.) , to graphics animations, and images. Typically , digital content refers to information available for download or distribution on electronic media.
Increasingly, teachers all over the world are using technology, including digital curricular resources and tools, to enhance students’ classroom experiences and improve learning outcomes.
Recognizing student needs, interests, and preferences, teachers employ digital content to transform their instructional practices, including , in some cases, by independently creating, modifying, and sharing learning materials. Empowering teachers to engage in the development, refinement, and use of digital materials- including lesson plans, videos of instructional practice , and formative assessments- holds real promise for improving student learning experiences and teacher effectiveness.
Unlike traditional textbooks and other printed materials, digital content can be updated in a more timely manner and better targeted to meet specific student needs –enabling and stimulating flexibility, creativity, and collaboration and allowing for an educator-influenced system of ongoing improvement and enhancement.
Using E-Books
E-Books can present any type of auditory or visual materials-including speech, text, music, animations, photographs, or videos- alone or in different combinations. E-Books can link different types of representations such as pictures with sounds, oral readings with written text, videos with subtitles, or any other combinations that could reinforce teaching. Teachers should proactively make use of e-Books in facilitating teaching and learning. The usage of such, from the perspective of teachers, involves in the preparation or even the development of eBooks for students.
Using E-tutorials and training videos
E-tutorials and training videos help in the overall professional development of the teachers. With the help of E-tutorials teachers will be able to keep themselves up to date with new innovation and techniques in the field of teaching. Teachers may get better guidance and teaching tips from the experts and teacher educators in E-tutorials. Training videos can in turn help the teachers in developing effective classrooms, improving their teaching techniques and style.
Gurukul system of Education was in vogue in India. The main characteristics of Gurukul System were dedicated and knowledgeable teachers, individualized and learner centre teaching, and self-motivated students eager to learn. This system changed due to increase in number of students. Consequently, the number of teachers increased. Some teachers are born but rests of them have to be given rigorous training so as to develop required competency to become a teacher.
Teachers have been conscious about the quality of their teaching. To enhance the quality, some teachers use teaching aids, like, charts, models – static and working, specimen, slides, etc. because teachers are given training both in preparation and use of Audio-visual Aids. It is a known fact that majority of schools do not have appropriate teaching aids related to the school content. So teachers have no facility to use A – V Aids during teaching. the use of A-V Aids get further restricted due to unmotivated persons becoming teachers.
Central government realized the need of improving quality of education through the use of Television wherein most competent teacher teaches the topic with the help of most appropriate teaching aids. This helped in improving the quality of teaching in schools having no teacher to teach the subject, less competent teacher, schools having poor or no facility of teaching aids, etc.
Programmes offered through television were produced by different State Institute of Educational Technology (SIET) in different languages. Even the Video Instructional Materials were produced and made available to teachers; still majority of schools did not make use of them. some of the reasons were no facility of TV and VCR, no electricity, TV and VCR not in working condition, not incorporated in the time table, lack of initiation on the part of teacher and Principle , etc.
Along with A-V Aids, the print media has to go a long way in improving the quality of teaching and learning. Format in which the textbooks were written was not beneficial for teachers and students. Researchers started thinking and using different Theories of Learning for developing Instructional Material. This gives birth to Programmed Learning Material based on Operant Conditioning Theory of Learning . Programmed Learning Materials were compared with that of Lecture Method or Conventional Method.
Programmed Learning Material alone as well as in combination with other methods for teaching different subjects was found to be effective in terms of achievement of students.
