Digital album

ICT connects the world

     Information and communication technology (ICT s) is a broader term for information technology (IT), which refers to all communication technologies, including the internet, wireless networks, cell phones, computers,software, video-conferencing, social networking, and other media applications and services enabling users to access, retrieve, store, transmit, and manipulate information in a digital form.

ICTs are also used to refer to the convergence of media technology such as audio-visual and telephone networks with computer networks, by means of a unified system of cabling (including signal distribution and management) or link system. However, there is no universally accepted definition of ICTs considering that the concepts, methods and tools involved in ICTs are steadily evolving on an almost daily basis.

Characteristics of ICT

1.Immateriality: you know that the information you handle is immaterial, that you can move it from one place to another instantly to different places.

2.Interactivity: ICTs will provide you with an exchange of information between you, the user and a computer that, if you do not know what ICTs are, you will know that this fact allows you to adapt the resources used to your characteristics.

3.Interconnection: it is a link between various technologies. The clearest example is the union of communication and computer technologies, which gave rise to email.

4.Instantaneity the characteristic of transmitting certain information over a long distance and with extremely fast speed.

5.Digitization: all the information we process is in a single universal format. The photos, texts, audios, etc. They can be transmitted by any means.

6.Innovation: ICTs have been developed under the protection of development and the need to innovate. This has caused, in the social field, the creation of new means to further enhance communications. 

These are the main characteristics that define well what ICTs are. Comfort, interactivity or connection are one of the hallmarks of Information and Communication Technologies

Scope of ICT

Mass education

 There has been explosion of population and knowledge. There is, therefore, a need to educate the masses. The problem is multiplied further by having a large section of illiterate people. So, ICT has a tremendous application to educate a large section of people and to impart a large amount of knowledge in a limited span of time. In this regard, the mass media viz., TV, radio, and other modern technologies like computers and information technology (E-mail,internet, mobile, etc.) has a lot of scope. The illiterate masses can also be made literate with the help of innovative methods and practices of teaching and learning.

Historical information

Any branch of knowledge that we deal with has a historical base. Such information is of tremendous importance for the students to understand any branch of knowledge in its totality. Such incidents when occur can be recorded with the help of audio-video CD. Such audio-video CD becomes the source of information for learners to learn. The main advantage of such CDs is that we cannot create or repeat the history once more howsoever we try hard and place it before the learner. For example, can we have the same view of the explosion of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1946) and show it to our students? This is neither feasible nor possible. Further, for example, we cannot have the same view of Nuclear test conducted at Pokhran (1998). So such records in the form of a film taken when the incident is happening are of immense value to the learners which ICT can only provide.

Costly and hazardous experiments

 In many fields of science and technology there are some experiments having great implications for effective learning which are not advisable for the teacher to conduct in the classroom because of cost and jealth hazards involved. Such experiments, once conducted carefully in the laboratory or elsewhere can be recorded with the help of new information and communication technology and be used by teachers and students for effective learning.

Gaming and simulation

  If historical events which are either costly or hazardous which cannot be conducted, then ICT can rescue us by doing the same through simulation. Computer technology in this regard plays the main role. This can provide a lifelike picture of phenomena in three dimensions (3D). It can also show the operation of different parts of a phenomenon and the consequences.

The other possibility is games. Children can learn, through play, many concepts that just cannot be taught in the formal set of the classroom. The gaming and simulation has a great scope in the training of military personnel and in the field of aviation.

Distance education

 ICT has a great scope in distance education and open school programme. Today there is a great need for personnel training and education on regular basis for updating oneself in the field of work. In this regard, distance education programmes, a relatively less formal process of education, have acquired new status. Educational technology with its innovative practices can educate the learners who cannot come to the classroom setup for their education.In this regard programmed learning materials, modules, contact programme, and counselling are some innovations which can help distance learners.Collection, storing and retrieval of information: There are digital cameras and mobiles which provide us the facility to take same photographs of events that take place in a fraction of second. There are also satellites that work for us day and night to provide us information about places which are not accessible tous. Information can be collected with the help of this new electronic technology both in audio and in video form. Such information can be stored with magnetic and electronic devices easily and can be retrieved within no time.

Research

  As mentioned earlier, information can be collected and stored to be used for educational purposes. Information can also be collected and stored in the same way for research. Further, for analysis and reporting, computer can be used. Not only quantitative data but also qualitative data can be analaysed and there lies the role of computer and the different methods of data analysis methods and techniques. Moreover, in developmental type of research, different kinds of packages can be developed for raising the effectiveness of learning. There are many researches already conducted in this field i.e., computer assisted instruction(CAI), and computer assisted language learning packages. With the facilities of Internet, Website, and INFLIBNET, the researchers as well as a learner wanting to inquire or find out something that is happening elsewhere can have access to a large amount of information sitting at home. He can formulate his hypotheses, problems, and ideas and get them solved while at home. In this process, the research findings are not only disseminated but also the quality of research can be increased.

Advantages of ICT

1.Communication - Speed / time – money can be saved because it’s much quicker to move information around. With the help of ICT it has become quicker and more efficient.

2. Globalization - Video conferencing saves money on flights and accommodation. ICT has not only brought the countries and people closer together, but it has allowed the world's economy to become a single interdependent system to contact either a business or family member.

3. Cost effectiveness - It feels free to send an email (although it isn’t); it’s without doubt cheaper than phone calls. ICT has also helped to automate business practices, thus restructuring businesses to make them exceptionally cost effective.

4.Greater Availability - ICT has made it possible for businesses to be automated giving clients access to a website or voicemail 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

5.Bridging the cultural gap – Greater access to technology has helped to bridge the cultural gap by helping people from different cultures to communicate with one another, and allow for the exchange of views and ideas, thus increasing awareness and reducing prejudice.

6.Creation of new jobs - Probably, the best advantage of ICT has been the creation of new and interesting jobs.

7.Education – Computer’s along with their programs and the Internet have created educational opportunities not available to previous generation.

8.Through ICT , images can easily be used in teaching and improving the retentive memory of student.

9.Complex structure - through ICT, teachers can easily explain complex structure ,instruction and ensure students comprehension.

10.Through ICT , teachers are able to create  interactive classrooms and make the lesson more enjoyable..

Disadvantages of ICT

1.Education – Computer’s along with their programs and the Internet have created educational opportunities not available to previous generations.

2.Lack of job security – Experts in a wide variety of fields believe that ICT has made job security a big issue, since technology keeps on changing nearly every day. This means that individuals need to be constantly studying or at least keeping up with changes in their profession, if they want to feel secure in their jobs to be secure.

3.Overriding Cultures - While ICT may have made the world a global village, it has also contributed to one culture consuming another weaker one. For example, it is now argued that teenagers in the US influence how most young teenagers all over the world now act, dress, and behave

4.Privacy - Though information technology may have made communication quicker, easier, and more convenient, it has also brought along privacy issues. From cell phone signal interceptions to e-mail hacking, people are now worried about their once private information becoming public knowledge.

5. Reliance on Technology – Professor Ian Robertson, a neuropsychology expert based at Trinity College Dublin who carried out the study, said: “People have more to remember these days, and they are relying on technology for their memory but the less you use of your memory, the poorer it becomes. . people don’t bother learning to spell because they use spell-checker, or need a calculator do perform minor addition or subtraction.

6. Reliability of Information – Anyone with access to a computer and an internet connection internet can start a blog or post something up on a website, so just because something’s on the web doesn't mean it’s reliable. A prime example of this is  the open source  encyclopedia, Wikipedia, although considered a good source of information it is not recognized by academic institutions  as a trustworthy reference.

7.Computer viruses, worms, Trojans, malware, spam, phishing- any or all can cause chaos and disrupt our daily lives

8.Setting - setting up the device can be very trouble some.

9.Expansive - too expansive to afford.

10.Lack of experience - hard for teachers to use with a lack of experience using ICT tools.