POTENTIALITIES OF IT IN EDUCATION

How can we use IT in different Stages/ Levels of Education?

IT for Learning at Home (Before Primary Education)

• Can be used for giving some ideas about basic things in education with the help of elders.
• Intelligent toys can be used to get some elementary ideas about the concept of programming.
• Elders can guide the children to operate touch –sensitive switches on television sets, to press the buttons of a pocket calculator.

IT in Primary Schools

• Children’s computer awareness is slowly increasing as computers arrive in primary schools.
• To get keyboard literacy.
• To practice ‘mouse movements’.
• To provide practice in problem solving techniques by giving logic games in computers.
• For learning languages. (Especially in language laboratory).
• Computer assisted learning can be used to create interest in learning.
• Various types of discs can be used to create interests.

IT in Secondary Schools

• Hardware and software training can be started.
• For the preparation of course materials by using computers (E.g.:-Project and Assignment)
• For improving literature. (E.g.:-Teachers can ask them to write a critique after seeing a cartoon).
• For more advanced learning of languages.
• Simulation through computers can be used for demonstrating experiments.
• To provide interactive learning through multimedia and internet.
• Opportunity for Online teaching (E.g.:-through EDUSAT)
• Can be used for computer assisted learning projects.
• Can be used for evaluation (Both for self and general evaluation).

IT in Teacher Training

• Can be used for pre-service training for attaining better quality. (E.g.: to show model lessons).
• For in-service training (E.g.:-Training on revised curriculum and evaluation system).
• For orientation and refresher courses.
• Awareness on computer application for guiding students in proper channels.
• Can be used for evaluating the performances of trainees.
• Can be used for training to select programmes for educational purposes.

            # Training for the selection and preparation of educational programmes can be at ‘3’ level.

§  Awareness level(3 or 4 days)

§  Expertisation level(one month)

§  Advanced level(3 month)

IT in Higher Education

• Can be used for collecting learning materials.
• For using online computer library centers.
• Can access to the students of other universities.
• Can be used for accessing to the experts in various fields.
• Computer based simulation can be used in technical and engineering fields.
• Can be used for cataloging in libraries.
• Computer assisted learning materials can be used.
• Internet service can be used for getting information from e-books, e-journals, etc.
• For self evaluation.

IT in Vocational and Continuing Education

• Computer based simulation can be used for making the training more effective. (Eg;-Simulatin in pilot training).
• Online teaching opportunities (E.g.:-Through EDUSAT)
• To interact with the experts in the various fields.
• For sharing and accessing the ideas with other students.
• Telecourses can be offered in the field of continuing education.

IT for Informal Learning for Adults

• For providing awareness about health and medicines. (E.g.:-through multimedia presentation)
• For providing awareness about sanitation.
• For effective use of leisure time
• Can be used for news services.                                                                                                           
• Can be given awareness on the use of e-mail system.
• Can be given awareness in e- commerce.

Computers for Storing Information and To Gather Stored Information

• For keeping records.
• For keeping cumulative records of students.
• For keeping attendance and assessment.
• For producing individual letters to parents.
• For making students’ lists.
• For preparing progress report.

Computers for Testing and Monitoring

• Question banks can be stored and prepared.
• For constructing tests (For random checking )
• For the selection of questions (for classifying items).
• For preparing blue print of question papers.
• Can be used for printing the test items.
• Can be used to select questions from question banks according to content, marks, objectives, etc.
• For ‘adaptive testing’. (i.e., Depth of questions will be increased according to the depth of students).
• For tabulation.
• For obtaining statistical parameters such as mean, S.D., etc.
• Can be used in item analysis of question paper.

Economics of use of IT in Education

• More economical.
• Needs only initial investment.
• Information can be stored.
• Reproduction is very easy.
• Less risk.
• Saves energy and time.
• More perfection.
• Printing of documents is very accurate and easy.
• The problem of unavailability of materials can be solved. (e.g.:- a topic in a foreign book).

ICT IN CLASSROOM

I.                   Constructivism and ICT

• ICT helps to develop constructivism among learners.
• Learning is project based in constructivism, there comes the importance of ICT.
• Learners make/construct knowledge through ICT.
• Learner centered and learner controlled learning.
• It does not provide linear logic.
• It provides intrinsic motivation.
• It provides richness and variety to students’ work.
• It encourages co-operative learning and collaborative learning.
• It satisfies/reduces their anxiety.
• Learner’s autonomy and confidence increases as they rely less on their teacher for knowledge creation.
• They can gather more real-world data.
• It provides up-to-date information.
• In short, ICT helps the teachers and students to follow the constructivist ideas and in the classroom.

II   Higher order Thinking and ICT

• ICT provides project based training; thus it helps for creativity.
• It helps to take his own decision as he controls his learning materials.
• Learner searches, prepares and presents the information and therefore expertise in the subject.
• It provides not only ‘minds on training’ (learning) but also ‘hands on training’ (practice and usage).
• It helps to think in different ways.
• Their role broadens /changes from investigators of other products to designers, authors and publishers as they share their findings to the world.
• Internet content is less structured and manageable than outlined in a text book. Therefore they will have to question, evaluate and arrange the information they found. It requires higher order thinking.
• Raw data provided by internet requires a proper arrangement for meaningful presentation. It also requires higher order thinking.
• Eg:-Pictures from space, Numbers from census.                                                                                 

III. ICT for Equal Opportunities

• ICT provides greater assistance to traditionally undeserved population.(Physical or developmental disabilities).
• It can ease the problem of social isolation as they can work with computers without anyone’s help.
• Light weight computers are also helpful.
• It increases academic motivation and lessens anxiety as they can progress at their own speed.
• Distance education using ICT is to achieve education for all.
• It creates inequality among girls and boys as most of the internet materials are meant for boys.
• Teacher should be very conscious to bridge such a gap.

IV. ICT for Pedagogy

• ICT makes teacher centered instruction into a learner-centered instruction.
• Teachers and learners are co-partners in teaching –learning process.
• Teachers and learners are co-constructors of knowledge through ICT.
• It changes the learning process into ‘learning by doing’.
• Teachers can provide students with self paced, self directed and problem based learning experiences.
• It provides curriculum guides for teachers.
• It provides various forms of lesson plans and teaching strategies for teachers.
• In short, role of the teacher has changed from a disseminator of information to a learning facilitator.

V.  ICT for Assessment

• It provides rapid feedback.
• Assessment is linked to the learning.
• It can assess higher order thinking and learning through simulation as he has to make his own decision at different stage.

VI. ICT in Administration

• It reduces costs of administration significantly.
• It can be used for keeping all types of records.
• Speedy functioning.
• For more perfection.
• Can be used in school management and information system.
• To know accountability of staff in terms of students’ achievements, complaint about teachers through continuous assessment of their work.
• It saves time and energy.
• For preparing time tables.
• To avoid errors in administration.
• It helps to provide guidelines for educational institutions.

VII . ICT and simulation and Game

• It enables the learners to experiment with situation which would otherwise be too expensive, too time-consuming.
• Simulation in pilot training and nuclear explosion.
• It promotes discovery learning.
• Games for small children for keyboard literacy and mouse handling.
• It helps to improve speed and quality of learning performance.
• It stimulates motivation and curiosity.
• It enhances learning through visualisation, prediction,etc.
• It enables students to experience success and a sense of achievement.

Don’ts with ICT (Practical Advice for Using ICT)

            According to National Council for Educational technology, (NCET) there are 7 don’ts.

• Don’t assign pupils to computers before preparing them for the task they will be doing.
• Don’t give a task which is irrelevant to school curriculum or home needs, etc.
• Don’t let the students to do anything while giving introduction to the lesson.
• Don’t expect the print out of their work at the end of every lesson.
• Don’t end the lesson without having a discussion on what they have achieved.
• Don’t rely on the technology to run the lesson.
• Don’t leave the pupils for working on their task without reminding them of the educational purpose of it.

Role of the Teacher

• Role of the teacher has changed.
• Values of teaching are changed.
• Now, the new role is,
• To help how to search for information.
• To help in editing.
• To help in presentation.
• To give proper feedback.
• to help the learner to analyse the learning materials.
• Giving directions for the effective use of I.T.

Health Issues Related to the Use of IT and Their Remedies

Health Related Issues

• Headache
• Back Pain
• Sight Problem
• Neck Pain, Etc.

Remedies

• Sitting down with good postures.
• Feet should touch the floor.
• Use wrist support for the keyboard and mouse.
• Use a document holder for typing.
• Monitor should be placed at eye level or directly in front of the person.
• Use glare-reducing screens.
• Keep your computer area organized.
• Keep things that you use frequently within your reach.
• Take break and shift your position.
• Phone should be kept in proper place.
• Use a headset to avoid neck strain which telephoning.

Impact on Behavoiural Pattern

• Lack of socialization.
• Lack of social involvement.
• Moral issues.
• Computer crazy.
• May develop selfishness.