Importance of ICT in Education and Teaching-Learning process
Introduction:
Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) is the type of technology employed in the shape of tools, equipment and application support, that helps in the collection, storage, retrieval, use, transmission, manipulation and dissemination of information as accurately and efficiently as possible. It is for the purpose of enriching the knowledge and developing communication, decision making as well as problem solving ability of the user.
ICT will not only include hardware devices connected to computers, and software applications, but also interactive digital content, internet and other satellite communication devices, radio and television services, web based content repositories, interactive forums, learning management systems, and management information systems.
These will also include processes for digitisation, deployment and management of content, development and deployment of platforms and processes for capacity development, and creation of forums for interaction and exchange.
The National Policy on Education 1986 , as modified in 1992, stressed the need to employ educational technology to improve the quality of education.
The policy statement led to two major centrally sponsored schemes, namely,
i. Educational Technology (ET) and
ii. Computer Literacy and Studies in Schools (CLASS)
Thus, paving the way for a more comprehensive centrally sponsored scheme — Information and Communication Technology at Schools in 2004. The significant role ICT can play in school education has also been highlighted in the National Curriculum Framework 2005 (NCF) 2005.
The ICT Policy in School Education aims at preparing youth to participate creatively in the establishment, sustenance and growth of a knowledge society leading to all round socioeconomic development of the nation and global competitiveness.
Importance of ICT in Education and Teaching-Learning Process:
ICT plays the same role in our information and communication process and their outcomes, as played by other technologies in making our life comfortable and purposeful. ICT in education has tremendous potential to serve and help the people connected with the process and product of education in many ways.
1. ICT can bring the existing educational system in alignment with the knowledge-based, information-rich society by providing services of sophisticated tools, techniques and methods at its disposal.
2. Use of ICT can bring about a paradigm shift in traditional views and methods of teaching — learning process. Some of the changes are as follows:
a. It will help in transitioning from a broadcast model of learning to interactive learning. Thus making the students active and participate in the teaching — learning process.
b. Helps in the process of transitioning from teacher-centered instruction to learner-centered instruction. Students become self-reliant and self-directed in acquisition and application of knowledge and skills
c. Shifts emphasis from teaching to learning thereby creating a more interactive and engaging learning environment for both teachers and students.
d. Changes the role of teachers from a mere knowledge-transmitter to that of a learning-facilitator, knowledge guide or navigator and an active co-learner along with students.
e. Enables students to become more responsible about their learning as they seek out relevant information and knowledge through their own efforts, synthesize and share their knowledge with others. It makes them realize their educational potentials.
f. ICT helps students to think critically and creatively and to reflect on their own learning process. They even set their individual goals for growth and development of their potentials.
3. ICT prepares teachers to meet challenges of the teaching-learning task of modern age. It helps teachers in proper execution of their multi-dimensional responsibilities in various areas of education.
4. ICT can be beneficial not only to teachers for their own education and training but also to use it creatively for accelerating the educational growth of their students.
5. Schools or Students that have no access to computer devices like PCs, laptops, tablets or smartphones can especially utilize ICT in the form of Radiobroadcasts and Telecast. There are specific educational programs such as Gyanvani and Gyandarshan hosted by Akashvani and Doordarshan respectively to cater to the subjects of a school curriculum.
For such students, traditional ICT tools such as pictures, charts, models, graphs, blackboard, newspapers, educational visits, excursions or educational fairs and exhibitions can be utilized for learning and applying school subjects.
6. In schools, or students that have access to computer but no internet connection –
a. pre-recorded CDs and DVDs containing useful content may be used.
b. Various word processing programs such as MS word can be used by both teachers and students alike. Teachers can prepare their lesson plans, write Questionnaire, prepare evaluations and diagnostic test to check performance of the students. Students can make their assignments using MS Word using creative designs and templates.
c. MS Excel can be used by teachers in middle and primary school for data collection, analysis and presentation. It is especially important in teaching students the importance of data collection and representation in the form of — Bar graphs, pie charts, histograms etc.
d. Power point presentations can be prepared by teachers as well as students using the MS PowerPoint Application to present and demonstrate their lessons in effective and efficient manner.
e. Interactive whiteboards (IWB) also known as smartboards are electronic and digital boards that help in showing what’s presented on a computer desktop with the help of a projector. It helps to control the computer with the help pf a pen to conduct a lecture in an interactive manner.
f. Software such as Interactive Geometry software, Instructional Software, Simulation, gaming and recreational software provides for rich alternative source for teaching and learning. They can help to remove fear and phobias related to study of a subject at the same time providing them opportunities to learn while playing or engaging in virtual applications of the principles and processes of a subject.
An intelligent software while interacting with students in its tutorial may tell where an error was made on the part of the. Student while solving problems and offer suggestions for reaching a. correct answer based specifically on the students incorrect answer.
7. In case of students who have computer services in school with internet facilities, the amount of information available to them is immeasurable.
a. World wide web (WWW) is updating the knowledge warehouses for students, teachers, scientist due to enormous progress of ICT. Anybody can refer the latest information and research every day.
b. Open universities and distance education through ICT are new openings for working people to acquire, knowledge to study at home also.
c. The man power, the human mistakes can be avoided by online examination. It maintains objectivity of examination. And requires minimum time even examination can be conducted on demand Maharashtra state board is conducting online examination for Information Technology subject of XII standard. Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation (MKCL) also conduct online examination for MSCIT course and the result is declared as soon as student clicks the end exam button.
ICT can be useful for a teacher in the following ways:
1. It is helpful in the professional development of the teachers. A teacher can learn various language skills with the help of ICT. They can do various certification programs run by the famous educational institutions like Cambridge University, British Council etc. These programs help in enhancing his capacity to teach his subject content easy, economic and more understandable.
2. A teacher can increase his domain of knowledge with the help of e-journals, e-magazines and e-library that can be achieved only through the use of ICT. He can also participate in discussions and conferences with the experts of his subject teaching to improve his knowledge and skills through audio and video conferencing.
3. ICT helps a teacher to learn innovative methods of teaching. He can work with the students on various project and assignments. It also helps him in providing teaching contents, home works etc.
4. He may participate in various in-service training programs and workshops which are essential for his professional development with the help of ICT.
5. ICT helps a teacher to guide his students about the learning materials available on internet, e-books , e-journals,e-magazines and social sites like linked –in which are helpful in better learning of subject skills.
6. ICT also helps him framing curriculum of subjects. He can study curriculums of different countries to study their pros and cons, challenges as well as sociological and psychological issues related to learners. All these things help him in framing a curriculum that leads to achieve the aims and objectives of subject of teaching.
ICT can be useful for a student in the following ways:
1. Student can study through online resources. There are different resources through which it will be helpful for students to understand topic. Students can learn from their place and at any time.
2. Students can meet teachers online and get required knowledge about the subject.
3. Students can have no limit of time and place.
In this way there are different apps through which teaching learning process is becoming more easy. These apps help teachers and students to communicate with each other and get knowledge of particular subject. Teachers are also learning different apps use for teaching and students are using for learning process. In this way ICT tools are helpful in this pandemic situation. These tools are helping teachers as well as students.
Current Situation and importance of ICT Today:
1. Online education: Due to Covid-19, there is no option without online education. As lockdowns don’t allow to open schools, colleges, so online education is only one option through which education can be continued.
2. Use of apps: Different apps nowadays are used for online education. These apps are helpful for students and teachers to reach. Such type of apps are also used for meetings, online teaching learning process. Ex. Zoom, Google meet, Webex etc.
3. Platforms for online education: There are different platforms available for online education. Through these platforms, online classes can be taken, videos can be uploaded, recorded videos can be send. So these platforms are helpful to the students as well as teachers. Ex. Swayam, Webex, Impartus etc.
4. Use of different e-content : Due to online education there is no time limit as well as place restriction for learning. Anyone can learn from any place and at any time. So many type of education any one can take. And different e-contents are also prepared for students. These are helpful for them to enrich their knowledge.
5. Tools for teachers[iii]: GeoGebra can construct almost every conceivable geometrical object, even in 3D! Object drawing is interactive and can be moved around, modified, measured. PhET Simulations are interactive computer programs which allow a user to change variables and see the effect of the changes on the system. These are very useful in helping students explore the subject, solve problems and can also become a useful self-assessment tool.
Using a tool or creating a tool calls for a clear view of the end result — the exact task to be accomplished. Working back from this, the ability to understand the process or procedure of accomplishing the task together with the skill to wield the tool is to be gained. Therein lies the challenge. Therein lies the fascination.
The Various ICT initiatives
1. e-pathshala : The digital India campaign has promoted extensive use of ICTs in the teaching learning process. The ePathshala, a joint initiative of Ministry of Education, Govt. of India and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), has been developed for showcasing and disseminating all educational e-resources including textbooks, audio, video, periodicals, and a variety of other print and non-print materials for Students, Teachers, Parents, researchers and educators. It provides access to digital textbooks for all classes, graded learning materials and enables participation in exhibitions, contests, festivals, workshops, etc.
2. NROER: The National Repository of Open Educational Resources (NROER) is developed by CIET, NCERT. It was launched during the National Conference on ICT for School Education. NROER hosts large number educational resources in many subjects and in different Indian languages for Primary, Secondary and Senior Secondary classes. Resources are available in different formats like Video, Image, Audio, Document and Interactive. Apart from this all NCERT books are available in Flip book format. NROER is an collaborative platform, intend to reached the un-reached and institutions like SCERT, SIERT, SIE, Vigyan Prasar, CCERT, Gujarat Institute of Educational Technology (GIET),
3. Swayam MOOCs: SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active–Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) is a programme initiated by Government of India and designed to achieve the three cardinal principles of Education Policy viz., access, equity and quality. SWAYAM seeks to bridge the digital divide for students who have hitherto 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.
SWAYAM platform is 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, under-graduate, post-graduate, engineering, law and other professional courses.
4. Swayam Prabha: SWAYAM Prabha is an initiative of the Ministry of Human Resources Development to provide 32 High Quality Educational Channels through DTH (Direct to Home) across the length and breadth of the country on 24X7 basis. It has curriculum-based course content covering diverse disciplines. This is primarily aimed at making quality learning resources accessible to remote areas where internet availability is still a challenge. The DTH channels are using the GSAT-15 satellite for programme telecasts.
5. ICT in education curriculum: The National Policy on ICT in School Education has set the goal of preparing youth to participate creatively in the establishment, sustenance and growth of a knowledge. Teachers and Children must not be treated merely as consumers but also as active producers. The digital India Campaign (2015) strives to transform India into a digitally empowered society by focusing on :
a. E-governance and services on demand
b. Digital literacy and empowerment of citizens.
The present curricula for ICT in education is a step towards realizing. The goals of both National Policy and the National Curriculum Framework.
6. Diksha: In India, many teachers are creating & using innovative tech-based solutions in their classrooms. Some state governments have also initiated programs to support their teachers digitally. This inspired MHRD and NCTE to coordinate these efforts at a national level and build DIKSHA.
States, government bodies and even private organisations, can integrate DIKSHA into their respective teacher initiatives based on their goals, needs and capabilities. They can use DIKSHA’s features to create:
a. In-class resources
b. Teacher training content
c. Assessment aids
d. Teacher profile
e. News and announcement
f. Teacher community
These features have emerged from consultations with multiple state governments, NGOs and more than 30 public and private organisations, who have collaborated in contributing to DIKSHA.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Learning and Teaching , S K Mangal and. Shubhra Mangal
National Policy on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) In School Education
Technology Tools for Teachers: https://www.cemca.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Technology%20Tools%20for%20Teachers_Low.pdf
E-Pathshala: https://epathshala.nic.in/epathshala.php?ln=en
The National Repository of Open Educational Resources (NROER) : https://nroer.gov.in/welcome
Swayam: https://swayam.gov.in/explorer
Swayam Prabha: https://www.swayamprabha.gov.in/
Curricula for ICT in Education: https://ictcurriculum.gov.in/mod/page/view.php?id=16
